BLOOMINGTON -- A Feb. 8 trial date has been set for a former Bloomington man accused of murdering his girlfriend's 20-month-old son.

Franklin Byers III, 25, now of Decatur, is accused of the October 2, 2007 death of Aaron O'Brien Ishmael. The toddler died at a Peoria hospital where he was transferred after Bloomington rescue crews responded the previous day to a call of an injured child on Oakbrook Court.

Byers has pleaded innocent to the murder charges.

Defense lawyer Steve Skelton said in court Friday that he is waiting on a report from a consulting physician who is expected to review the child's medical records. The reports may not be completed until September, he said.

Byers was allowed to continue his release on $75,000 bond after Judge Charles Reynard heard a court services report that Byers is attending a community college and following the terms of his release.

A prosecutor's statement indicates Byers told police the child's injuries were caused by a fall while Byers was watching the boy. An autopsy report listed blunt force trauma to the head as the cause of the child' death.

An Oct. 9 hearing is set to review the case.