Man to stand trial in baby killing

Aaron Pace, the Logan man arrested in February for causing a baby boy's death after bathing him in Drano cleaning fluid, was ordered to stand trial for murder this afternoon.

Philadelphia Municipal Judge James DeLeon made the ruling following a preliminary hearing, during which a series of photographs showing extensive burns over the 20-month-old child's face and body were displayed on a large projection screen.

The child, Suliaman Orrell-Kirkland, died at Saint Christopher's Hospital of those burns on Feb. 7 - five days after Pace washed him with the caustic liquid.

Pace, 33, of N. 18th Street near , grew up with the child's mother and was babysitting his "godson" at home on Feb. 2.

He first told homicide detectives that the baby got burned by bath water that was too hot, then tried to blame the injuries on his own mother, homicide Det. Jack Cummings testified.

Pace finally admitted that he poured Drano on a wash rag and rubbed it over the child's face, chest, thighs and private parts because he was fussing and would not cooperate while he was trying to administer a bath.

Pace is being held without bail. His next court date is June 1.