Golden Gate man convicted of manslaughter in death of 1-year-old

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NAPLES, Fla. — A jury convicted a Golden Gate Estates man charged with first-degree murder on lesser charges of aggravated manslaughter and aggravated battery in the 2014 death of a 1-year-old boy, court records show.

Niklaus Booska, 27, is slated to be sentenced Aug. 16 following the conviction, which took place Friday. Police detectives said the boy, Ivan Rose, died at a hospital after suffering head trauma, brain swelling, a 3-inch skull fracture and other injuries suffered while in the care of Booska, the boyfriend of Rose’s mother.

Between the time police questioned Booska about the case and his arrest, a Department of Children and Families official found him unresponsive due to a prescription drug overdose in the kitchen of the house he shared with his girlfriend, according to his arrest report.

Bond in the case had been set at $1.5 million.

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