Closing arguments were delivered on Friday and a jury began deliberation in the trial of a Waco man accused of beating his child, resulting in the child's death.
After three days of arguments the defense maintained the innocence of their client Arthur Bronache Kirven.
In close they reminded jurors no one testified to seeing Kirven behave violently toward the baby in any way. Instead they presented several possible explanations for the injuries.
One scenario included the medical professionals possibly breaking the ribs of eight-month-old Aydrian Kirven while performing CPR. The defendant's legal counsel suggested there were simply too many unanswered questions and possibilities not to have reasonable doubt especially without a witness.
The state countered this argument by pointing there was a witness, Kirven's older son Aiyden. Earlier in the week Aiyden's former foster mother took the stand saying he displayed violent aggression toward babies.
The prosecution explained his behavior was learned from somewhere.
In the closing statement, the prosecution presented the defendant as dishonest and delusional. On the stand he testified that he didn't believe in men serving as caretakers to babies, so mostly let the women of his family aid the baby.
The state argued that as a result he would not know how to take care of the baby on his own possibly explain why he may lose his temper inadvertently harming the child.
The jury began deliberations just after 11.
Kirven could face up to 99 years in prison if convicted.
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