ST. PAUL — A St. Paul man is being held on $500,000 bail in the death of his girlfriend’s 2-year-old son.

The death of Julian James-Robert Williams in 2009 was ruled a homicide due to blunt force injuries. Demetrius Charles Willis faces seven counts of murder and manslaughter. Willis made his first court appearance Monday.

The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports search warrant affidavits say a doctor who operated on the boy at the hospital concluded bruises on the child’s abdomen were the result of severe blunt force, possibly punches or kicks.