The trial of Richard McTear continued Thursday with testimony from a TV news photographer who discovered Emanuel Murray Jr. by the side of Interstate 275 near Fowler Avenue in May 2009.
Jerry Bird, who was on his way to work at the time, couldn’t believe his eyes.
“(He) wasn’t moving, eyes were closed, didn’t appear to be breathing. I don’t remember a lot after that. I just remember being in shock,” Bird testified.
Officers arrived moments later to see the 3-month-old in a onesie outfit and a diaper, lifeless on the concrete. Hillsborough County Deputy Kevin Dennie testified about the child’s injuries.
“I did observe road rash or abrasions on his forehead, legs, elbow, forearm elbow area,” he said.
From there, officers tried vigorously for 45 minutes to bring Emanuel back to life. He was already gone.
Prosecutors say McTear threw the baby out the window on the interstate after a fight with the baby’s mother. Jasmine Bedwell took the stand on Wednesday.
This is Richard McTear’s second trial in this case. The first one was ended in a mistrial. He faces the death penalty if he’s convicted.