A KINGSPORT MAN ACCUSED IN THE ABUSE DEATH OF HIS GIRLFRIEND’S TWO YEAR OLD SON JUST OVER TWO YEARS AGO HAS A TRIAL DATE SET FOR LATER THIS YEAR IN SULLIVAN COUNTY CRIMINAL COURT. 25 YEAR OLD SHAWN MULLINS IS CHARGED WITH FIRST DEGREE MURDER, AGGRAVATED CHILD ABUSE, AND AGGRAVATED CHILD NEGLECT. THE CHARGES STEM FROM THE MARCH 2005 DEATH OF TWO YEAR OLD CHRISTOPHER SMITH. SMITH WAS THE SON OF MULLINS’ GIRLFRIEND AT THE TIME, HEATHER COLLINS WHO HAD LEFT HIM WITH MULLINS WHILE SHE WENT TO A FRIEND’S HOME. MULLINS IS ALLEGED TO HAVE PICKED THE CHILD UP BY HIS HEAD, THREW HIM INTO HIS CRIB, STRUCK HIM WITH HIS FIST, KICKED HIM IN THE BACK, KNOCKED HIM TO THE GROUND AND PLACED A BUCKET OVER HIS HEAD AND STRUCK IT AS THE CHILD WALKED AROUND. PROSECUTORS ARE SEEKING THE DEATH PENALTY. MULLINS’ TRIAL DATE IS SET FOR NOVEMBER 3RD.