Handyman arraigned after alleged assault on child

MALDEN, Mass. (WHDH) -- A handyman accused of injuring a 4-year-old child pleaded not guilty to assault charges on Tuesday.

A fight between the handyman and the child’s mother, which apparently started over work that may not have been done, happened at an Everett home on Monday.

Handyman Maurin Tomas cried as prosecutors described the alleged crime that sent the child to a hospital. The child was bleeding profusely from the face and head.

“In one account he was his hit with a hammer that the defendant threw and as a result of throwing the hammer struck the 4-year-old child in the face,” said prosecutors. “In the defendant’s account, what happened is he threw some sort of a tape measure and he acknowledged to the police that he was throwing the tape measure at the child’s mother and missed her and hit the child.”

“According to a witness, she threw a power drill at my client,” said the defense. “She threw at a hammer at my client. She threw a tape measure at my client.”

Both sides agree that there was no intent to injure the child.

Prosecutors said the child was released from the hospital on Tuesday morning.

Tomas entered a not guilty plea. The judge set his bail at $2,500.