A judge ruled today that jurors on a capital homicide case will hear two cases against a Braddock father jointly.

The prosecutor said he planned to argue that William Lorenzo Page sexually assaulted a 6-year-old boy in his home and then proceeded to sexually assault his 23-month-old daughter within a short time span.

After those two incidents, Mr. Page, 24, is charged with abandoning his partially-clothed daughter, Nyia Page, outdoors in sub-freezing temperatures the next morning, Feb. 3. Emergency officials conducted a massive search and found the child's body a day later in a wooded area in Rankin.

Mr. Page, who is being held at Allegheny County Jail, shook his head no when Deputy District Attorney Mark V. Tranquilli said the defendant assaulted both children because he was "sexually frustrated."

"No! My God," Mr. Page said aloud to himself, seated at the defense counsel table.

Mr. Tranquilli told Common Pleas Judge David R. Cashman that the two assaults prior to the homicide had "a common theme and motive," and he requested that the jury for Nyia's homicide case also hear testimony about the assault on the 6-year-old boy.

Assistant Public Defender Chris Patarini said the fact that the alleged assaults happened at a similar place and time did not make the cases eligible for a joint trial.

"It would have a great prejudicial impact. It creates the impression that my client is a bad person," said Mr. Patarini, one of two lawyers defending Mr. Page.

The judge granted the prosecutor's motion to join the cases.

The trial is scheduled to begin May 5.