Boy, 10, won't face charges in child's death

Murder charges against a 10-year-old boy in the death of his 5-year-old foster brother were dropped Friday by prosecutors, who saidthey had no case because they've been barred from using a statementhe gave police.

The move came after Juvenile Court Judge Marjorie C. Laws lastmonth threw out a confession the boy, then 9, gave police andprosecutors shortly after the March 1998 beating death of DavidJones.

Laws said the boy was too young, suggestible and intellectuallyslow to have waived his rights before confessing.

"Without the statement, there was little to go forward on," saidBob Benjamin, spokesman for Cook County State's Attorney RichardDevine.

If he …