Prosecutors say the aunt of a 3-year-old Brooklyn boy fatally beat the toddler with a belt after he refused to complete a spelling assignment.

Christen Dale was arraigned Friday on manslaughter, assault and other charges in the death of Ethan Ali. She was remanded to jail. Her attorney didn't immediately return a message.

A criminal complaint says the 21-year-old Dale told a detective Ali was having trouble spelling and refused to finish an assignment for the first time Tuesday.

Prosecutors say the next day Dale struck the boy repeatedly with the belt. Officers found the bruised child at about 1:20 p.m. Wednesday in a Brownsville apartment.

A medical examiner found extensive bruising on his body, back and head as well as internal bleeding from being hit with a belt buckle.