A Queens man was sentenced Thursday to 16 years in prison for trying to kill his 2-year-old daughter with toxic chemicals in a botched murder-suicide try in Lawrence three years ago.
Khemchan Sulaiman had pleaded guilty last month before Nassau County Court Judge Christopher Quinn to charges of second-degree attempted murder, assault, criminal contempt and endangering the welfare of a child.
“The crimes in this case are shocking – especially given that the victim was a young child that was completely unable to protect itself,” Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice said.
Police had said at the time that the 48-year-old man doused himself and the toddler with ammonium chloride, which is commonly found in fire extinguishers, and a pesticide known as Sevin while in a vehicle parked behind a business on Central Avenue on Oct. 3, 2011.
A passersby discovered Sulaiman and the girl unconscious inside the vehicle and called police, who found both in respiratory distress, authorities had said. They were hospitalized in critical condition and the girl has since recovered.
The father was arrested the next day after investigators found ammonium chloride in the toddler’s bottle and Sevin on a car seat.
