A trial date has officially been set for an Altoona man accused of smothering a 16-month-old girl to death in 2018.
According to online court records, Drue Burd, now age 23, will face a jury of his peers in late September in the May 2018 death of Angela Beard.
Burd's trial was originally scheduled to begin in April, but was delayed.
Burd's defense has repeatedly argued that the death penalty should NOT be sought against him, citing testimony from an expert psychiatrist, who concluded that Burd, who was only 19 at the time of the crime, had the brain development of a juvenile.
Authorities testified that the toddler suffered "massive brain damage" and abuse at the hands of Burd.
Jury selection is scheduled for the week of Sept. 12, with the trial set to begin immediately after.