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Trial begins in beating death of 2-year-old

DonJuan Cassadary Smith Jr., 24, faces one count of murder and one count of felony child abuse in the May 14 death of Charvus Dublin Jr.

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RALEIGH, N.C. — Prosecutors began presenting evidence this week in the trial of a Raleigh man accused of killing a 2-year-old boy who had been left in his care.

DonJuan Cassadary Smith Jr., 24, faces one count of murder and one count of felony child abuse in the May 14 death of Charvis "Junior" Dublin.

The toddler was not breathing when Smith took him to a neighbor's house to call 911, according to the recording of the call.

Prosecutors say the boy was beaten to death.

Smith told dispatchers in the 911 call that he had given the child some pizza and gave him a bath when he started throwing up.

The neighbor performed CPR for more than five minutes until emergency personnel arrived at her home.

The child was pronounced dead a short time later.

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