An Effingham County man has begun serving a life sentence after his conviction for the 2006 murder of an infant child.

Sammy Brinson was also convicted for aggravated battery in the case. He previously served four and a half years on aggravated battery and aggravated assault charges.

“He got all he could get,” said Ogeechee Judicial Circuit Assistant District Attorney Michael Muldrew. “Anytime it happens is too often. It is a terrible crime.”

Brinson was indicted in 2006 for killing Arianna Rosier on May 21 of that year. He was accused of shaking the child and causing a fatal craniocerebral trauma. A grand jury indicted Brinson on four counts of murder, one count of aggravated assault, one count of cruelty to children and one count of aggravated battery.

“The evidence against him was really overwhelming,” Muldrew said.

Brinson’s defense team brought in a series of experts, including a biomechanical expert, a forensic pathologist from Miami and a doctor from the University of Alabama’s student medical services, according to Muldrew. Prosecution expert witnesses included two pathologists and the attending physician at Memorial Health University Center.

Brinson was found guilty on counts two through four of murder and not guilty on the first count. He was found guilty on the charges of aggravated assault, aggravated battery and cruelty to children.

The cruelty to children charge was merged with the three counts of murder. He also was sentenced to serve 20 years concurrently with his life sentence of murder on the charges of aggravated assault and aggravated battery.

Baby-shaking incidents don’t often result in the death of the toddler, Muldrew said. Such incidents result in death about 20 percent and end up in traumatic injuries to the infant about 80 percent of the time.

Brinson is serving his life sentence and a 20-year sentence for aggravated battery at Telfair State Prison. He previously served 3 1/2 years on a 4 1/2-year sentence for a 1997 case of aggravated assault and aggravated battery.