Trial begins in NJ baby bridge death

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (AP) - August 22, 2012 (WPVI) -- Prosecutors say a New Jersey man accused of throwing his 3-month-old daughter off a bridge repeatedly confessed to investigators.

In their opening arguments Wednesday, prosecutors said Shamsid-Din Abdur-Raheem's words will help show he's guilty of murder.

But The Star-Ledger reports defense lawyers told jurors they'll prove there's reasonable doubt he's guilty.

Abdur-Raheem's charged in the death of Zara Malani-lin Abdur-Raheem, who allegedly was abducted from her grandmother's East Orange apartment in 2010 while the baby's mother was in court seeking a restraining order.

Authorities say Abdur-Raheem parked on the Driscoll Bridge on the Garden State Parkway and threw the girl into the Raritan River. Her body was discovered about two months later.

Besides the murder count, the 24-year-old former Galloway Township resident faces charges of attempted murder, kidnapping, aggravated assault and child endangerment.

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homicide, trial, new jersey, local/state

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