A conviction could mean the death sentence for an Avondale man charged with killing his girlfriend's 3-year-old daughter in November.
The Maricopa County Attorney's Office has filed its intent to seek the death penalty against Alvaro Francisco Holguin Duarte, 23. He faces charges of first-degree murder and two felony counts of child abuse in the death of Alisandra Oliviana Romero, according to court documents.
The Attorney's Office listed aggravating factors as reason for seeking the death penalty, saying Duarte "committed the offense in an especially heinous, cruel or depraved manner," given how helpless Alisandra was, her physical and mental suffering, the senselessness of the murder, and Duarte's violation of his caretaker relationship with Alisandra.
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Duarte was baby-sitting Alisandra and her six other siblings while his girlfriend was at work on Nov. 17, police said. Emergency crews were called to the couple's apartment on the 300 block of East Van Buren Street about 9:30 a.m. when Alisandra stopped breathing. When paramedics arrived, they found the girl covered in bruises.
Duarte told police he slapped Alisandra when he discovered she had gone to the bathroom in her pants, court documents show. Alisandra's 11-year-old brother later told police he saw Duarte stomp on Alisandra's chest.
Alisandra was pronounced dead at 10:15 a.m. at West Valley Hospital in Goodyear.
Duarte pleaded not guilty Dec. 11. His trial management conference is schedule for Jan. 20.
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2009/01/15/20090115swv-deathpenalty0115-on.html
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