Mother and boyfriend charged with murder in death of two year-old

Following a grand jury indictment, a Buffalo mother and her boyfriend are being charged with second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter.

Keona Owens and Bashar Hall were arraigned in State Supreme Court. They both pleaded not guilty and are being remanded without bail. 

Previous stories:

• Mother of 2 year-old boy killed in Buffalo speaks out, forgives boyfriend charged with manslaughter
• Buffalo mother charged with manslaughter in death of 2 year-old

Hall was originally arrested for the alleged beating death of Owens' two year-old son, Xavion Hazzard. Xavion was transported to Oishei Children's Hospital after 911 calls were made to a Weaver Street home. After Hall was arrested, Owens was also arrested and charged in the July beating. 

In court, an assistant district attorney said that both Hall and Owens admitted during interviews that they abused the child multiple times.

Erie County District Attorney John Flynn says he upgraded manslaughter charges to depraved indifference murder charges after seeing Xavion's medical report. "I based my decision on the evidence in front of me, the evidence I had was clear and convincing without a reasonable doubt. I just can't comprehend a worse crime," says Flynn. Flynn says he can't reveal details of the medical report just yet, but says Xavion's injuries were numerous and "horrific".

Both Owens and Hall face 25 years to life if found guilty.

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