The legal case in the cruel killing of a 7-year-old Bronx girl formally ended Friday — but there was no closure for her heartbroken grandmother as the victim’s half-brother, who was charged with killing her, walked free.
Sexual abuse, assault and murder charges against Paul Fine Jr. in the 2021 killing of Julissia Batties were dropped on Friday after his mother took full responsibility for the crime, a decision the slain girl’s paternal grandmother said was “not fair.”
“I’m numb, I’m really numb to the whole situation,” Julissia’s heartbroken grandmother, Yolanda Davis, told The Post. “It’s really, really sad.”
“I’m not happy that he’s out.”
Davis said Fine should have remained behind bars even if just for lying under oath and that his and Julissia’s mother, Navasia Jones, 35, should have gotten life without parole.
Instead, she was handed a 15-year-sentence for manslaughter.
“He said he did it … but now what? Only God knows,” she said, adding, “I’m very angry. It really has me choked up.”
“I’m just hurt that my granddaughter is gone and I can’t get her back,” she said.
Police discovered Julissia’s battered body in Jones’ apartment at the New York City Housing Authority’s Mitchel Houses on Aug. 10, 2021.
Jones and Fine, 20, were arrested in 2022 and he allegedly admitted to sexually abusing his half-sister and punching her eight times in the face the morning she died.
He has since retracted his statements and this week, Jones, who took a plea deal with the Bronx District Attorney’s Office, said she alone assaulted Julissia and caused her death, officials said.
Fine’s lawyers claim he falsely copped to taking part in the killing to “protect” his mom.
Jones’ lawyer previously indicated that the evidence in the case “could have presented a problem” for prosecutors if the case ever went to trial. A police source said who exactly delivered the fatal blow “is not clear.”
Julissia’s grieving father, Julius Batties, told The Post this week that he also doesn’t think Jones’ 15-year sentence is long enough.
“It does make me angry because she’s getting away with murder and she’s getting her son back. I don’t get my daughter back,” Batties said.
Fine was seen outside the courthouse Friday, smiling and wearing a bright orange coat and Air Jordan sneakers, after Bronx Supreme Court Justice Joseph McCormack dismissed the charges against him.
His lawyers praised the judge’s ruling.
“We are extremely pleased that Paul has gotten his life back,” they said in a statement provided by Calvin Scholar, who was in court in place of Fine’s lawyer, Deveraux Cannick.
“Paul loves his family in a misguided way,” their statement continued. “He tried to protect his mother by taking responsibility for conduct that he did not commit.”
Fine’s attorneys added that he misses his sister and “tried to be her protector.”
“We are equally pleased that the District Attorney had an open mind and was willing to listen,” they added.