A Baltimore County jury on Monday began considering the fate of Brian Maurice Savage, 22, accused of beating to death his girlfriend's 15-month-old baby last year.
The jury retired to deliberate after hearing closing arguments from Savage's attorney, Roland Walker, and Assistant State's Attorney Karen Pilarski. Savage's trial began last Tuesday in Baltimore County Circuit Court.
The defendant faces counts of first- and second-degree murder and child abuse in the death of Cameron Justin Williams, who had been left in Savage's care on Nov. 1, 2009, while the boy's mother went to work.
Several hours later, Savage dialed 911 and said that the child was unresponsive. Paramedics found him unconscious and not breathing, and without a pulse. Efforts to revive the boy failed, and he was declared dead shortly after being taken to Franklin Square Hospital Center in White Marsh.
The prosecutor said an autopsy revealed "massive injuries" to several internal organs, which led to severe blood loss. The medical examiner determined that blunt-force trauma was to blame.
nick.madigan@baltsun.com