CAMERON JUSTIN WILLIAMS - 15 Months - Essex/Baltimore MD

A Baltimore County jury has found an Essex man, accused of killing his girlfriend's 15-month-old boy, guilty of second-degree murder and child abuse resulting in death.Brian Maurice Savage, 22, was arrested after the child, Cameron Justin Williams, died Nov. 1, 2009, while in his care. The boy's mother, Patience Peatan, was working in a convenience store when, according to prosecutors, Savage beat the boy so severely in the apartment they shared that several of his internal organs were fatally damaged.The Circuit Court jury deliberated all afternoon Monday and into the evening, and returned with a verdict at 8:15 p.m., after deliberating for about nine hours.Assistant State's Attorney Karen Pilarski said Tuesday morning that she would ask for the maximum penalty, 30 years in prison, when Savage is sentenced by Judge Vicki Ballou-Watts on Feb. 18.
Savage's attorney, Roland Walker, said he was disappointed by the verdict but not surprised."I don't believe he did it," Walker said of his client. "But the injuries to this gorgeous little boy were so horrendous — there were pictures of him everywhere — and you had doctors on the stand talking about his liver and his destroyed heart, that it was a lot to expect 12 laymen to get over."