Lawyer objects to physical restraints on homicide suspect

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MILWAUKEE (AP) — A Milwaukee man charged with killing the mother of his child and suspected of killing their 2-year-old child appeared at a court hearing restrained in a wheelchair, shackled and wearing a shock device.

Thirty-five-year-old Dariaz Higgins is accused of fatally shooting 24-year-old Sierra Robinson and wounding another woman on March 11. The body of Higgins’ daughter, Noelani Robinson, was found in a ditch in Minnesota four days after Higgins was arrested on March 13. Authorities say the child died from head trauma.

Her death remains under investigation.

The defense attorney Alejandro Lockwood objected to the restraints at the hearing, saying his client was “being treated like an animal.” Court officials said Higgins has been acting up in jail.

During the hearing prosecutors added a charge of attempted first-degree intentional homicide to the original charges of first-degree intentional homicide and first-degree recklessly endangering safety.