Brooklyn Couple Indicted For Death of 3-Year-Old

A Brooklyn couple accused of viciously abusing a 3-year-old boy have been indicted on manslaughter charges.

District Attorney Charles Hynes says 31-year-old Nymeen Cheatham and 25-year-old Lemar Martin are charged in the June 6 death of Kyle Smith.

Court papers say Kyle was sodomized, beaten, doused with cold water, and forced to do push-ups and march in place as punishment. His injuries included a torn tongue, bruises, and internal cuts.

The little boy's mother, a drug abuser, had left him with her friend, Ms. Cheatham.

The defendants also are charged with criminally negligent homicide, assault, and child endangerment. If convicted, they could face 25 years in prison.

Their attorneys did not immediately return calls for comment yesterday.