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Trial begins for man charged with killing toddler

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Sep 20, 2011 at 8:36 am

DULUTH, Minn. (AP) - Jurors are expected to be seated in St. Louis County Tuesday to hear evidence in the death of a boy who was just eight days from his 1st birthday.

A medical examiner says 11-month-old Connor Robinson died of massive blunt trauma to his lower chest and abdomen. A neighbor of the child's mother, Michael Tahtinen, is accused of inflicting the fatal injuries in September of 2008.

The 38-year-old Duluth man is charged with first-degree manslaughter. A criminal complaint says the boy, his mother and 3-year-old sister were visiting Tahtinen's house. The mother put Connor down for a nap, then went downstairs to practice music with Tahtinen's wife. A while later Tahtinen came downstairs holding the crying boy.

The Duluth News Tribune reports Tahtinen alleges the boy fell out of his portable crib.