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Boyfriend receives maximum prison time for toddler's beating death

Erie County District Attorney's Office

A Buffalo man has been sentenced to the maximum for the murder of his girlfriend's young son.

The Erie County District Attorney's Office said Bashar Hall, 24, has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for fatally injuring 2 ½-year-old Xavion Hazzard.

DA John Flynn said Hall beat the child inside their Weaver Street home and called 911 when the boy became unresponsive. But Hazzard was pronounced dead later that day at Oishei Children's Hospital.

The Erie County Medical Examiner’s Office determined the toddler died from multiple blunt force trauma.

Credit Erie County District Attorney's Office
Leona Owens also received a 25-to-life sentence.

“Xavion did not suffer one beating, but suffered a series of beatings by both defendants that occurred over a 10-to-12-hour period," said Flynn. "This little boy had 81 bruises on his head and torso, according to the Erie County Medical Examiner’s Office, which is one of the worst cases of child abuse that has been prosecuted by my office.”

In February, the boy's mother - Keona Owens, 23 - was found guilty on one count of murder in the second degree, a class A felony, and one count of manslaughter in the first degree, a class B felony. She also was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison last week.

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