Trial Date Set for Man Accused of Killing One-Year-Old

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A homicide defendant’s trial has been scheduled before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge John A. Howard.

Paul Dion Hardy, Jr, 35, is charged with second-degree murder, first-degree child abuse resulting in the death of a child younger than 13, first-degree child abuse resulting in severe physical injury, second-degree child abuse by a custodian, first- and second-degree assault, and reckless endangerment.

On Feb. 5, Hardy appeared before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa K. Copeland with defense attorney Augustine Okeke and Hardy’s trial was set for May 28.

According to documents from the District Court of Maryland, on Oct. 8, 2020, a Baltimore Police Department officer was flagged down by a citizen stating that a child was not breathing inside a home on the 600 block of Mosher Street.

Baltimore City Fire Department and medics rushed to the scene and rendered aid, but one-year-old Zariea Dixon, was pronounced dead on Oct. 11.

The medical examiner’s report stated the child’s death was caused by hemorrhaging to the left, right and top of the head caused by blunt force trauma.