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Trial slated for man in beating death of girlfriend's son

UNIONTOWN, Pa. (AP) — A southwestern Pennsylvania man goes on trial Monday in the beating death of his girlfriend's 4-year-old son.

Patrick Haney Jr., 29, could face the death penalty if convicted of first-degree murder in Fayette County in the September 2011 death of Trenton St. Clair.

The selection of jurors and alternates was completed Friday for the trial.

The child's mother, 30-year-old Heather Forsythe, of Point Marion, pleaded guilty last week to endangering the welfare of a child.

Prosecutors allege that Haney systematically beat the boy over several weeks and that his mother knew about the abuse but did nothing to stop it.

They have recommended a sentence of 2 1/2 to five years for Forsythe, who is scheduled to testify in Haney's trial.

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