Jurors heard Richard McTear's side of the story Tuesday as defense attorneys presented their case in his murder trial. McTear will not testify in his own defense.
He is accused of throwing his former girlfriend's baby out of his car window in May 2009. McTear Jr., 26, is charged with first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse and other offenses in the death of 3-month-old Emanuel Murray.
On Tuesday, the defendant’s father took the stand. Richard McTear Sr. told the jury his son never wanted to hurt baby Emanuel.
Instead, he pointed at the baby's mother, Jasmine Bedwell. McTear Sr. said he saw text messages between his son and Bedwell that worried him.
“She was talking like she would harm herself or harm her baby,” he said.
McTear's father said he saw those scary text messages a month before baby Emanuel was found dead on the side of Interstate-275.
But prosecutors shot back.
“When you saw that text message what did you do? Did you call 911? No? Did you call DCF?” asked the prosecutor.
“No I didn’t,” McTear Sr. answered.
McTear also wasn't able to produce those text messages for authorities. They were never found on his phone. Still, the defense said McTear wasn't responsible for the heinous crime.
On Monday, prosecutors showed the court pictures of bite marks on Bedwell that allegedly occurred during an altercation with McTear.
According to prosecutors, Bedwell returned home on the night of the incident to find her ex-boyfriend McTear hiding in her home. She said McTear attacked her—then her baby.
McTear's defense team says there's no proof the baby was thrown from the car. They say McTear went to Bedwell's apartment to pick up his clothes, not beat her and take the baby.
McTear has pleaded not guilty. If McTear is convicted, he could face the death penalty. Closing arguments are slated to begin Wednesday.