The Brooklyn district attorney dropped seven charges against the stepfather of Nixzmary Brown Tuesday, as jury selection began in his trial.

Cesar Rodriguez still faces second-degree murder charges in connection with the beating death of his seven-year-old stepdaughter. But he will no longer face charges of sexually abusing Nixzmary or the other children in their home.

Brown was found dead in her Brooklyn home in January 2006, prosecutors say after a long pattern of abuse by Rodriguez. Jury selection is expected to take about a week.

Nixzmary's mother, Nixzaliz Santiago, also faces murder charges for allegedly doing nothing to stop the beating. She will be tried after Rodriguez. Both could face life in prison if convicted.