Canada

Photo: The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

Ashiqur Rahman stands outside the court room at Nova Scotia Supreme Court in Halifax on Monday, Nov. 14, 2011. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

A judge convicted a Halifax man Friday in the death of his baby daughter, finding the new father slapped, shook and tossed her after becoming frustrated by a series of business failures and the cries of his child.

Nova Scotia Supreme Court Judge Felix Cacchione found Ashiqur Rahman guilty of manslaughter and aggravated assault, and described him as a manipulative, domineering man who controlled much of what happened in his home.

Cacchione said Rahman, who's in his late 20s, had little interest in his new baby and was solely focused on starting an online business in Canada after moving here from Bangladesh.

"The evidence satisfies me that Mr. Rahman had no bond with his daughter," Cacchione said in his ruling that took 2 1/2 hours to read.

"His focus was on his business, himself and nothing else."

Rahman, wearing a black T-shirt emblazoned with an Ashiqur Industries logo, sat quietly during the lengthy proceeding, but appeared surprised when the judge remanded him into custody and said "I didn't do anything," as he was led away by justice officials.

A sentencing hearing was scheduled for Aug. 7.

Rahman had pleaded not guilty to both charges in the death of seven-week-old Aurora Breakthrough in July 2009.

The prosecution argued that the case hinged on Rahman's credibility versus that of the baby's mother, Jane Gomes, who testified she saw her ex-boyfriend slap and shake the newborn in the weeks before she died.

Gomes received a conditional discharge with six months probation for failing to provide the necessities of life for Aurora.

Gomes sat in the second row of the court gallery and was surrounded by supporters as Cacchione read his verdict. One of them had her arm around the petite woman, who had her head down for much of the verdict.

Gomes didn't speak to reporters as she left court.

Cacchione found Rahman slapped Aurora "in anger and frustration" on June 29, only to slap her forcefully enough a week later to cause bleeding around the brain.

He said that on July 22, a frustrated Rahman either tossed or dropped the baby on the couple's bed, causing the injuries that led to her death.