BRUNSWICK, Ga. – The Latest on the trial of a Georgia man charged with murder for his toddler son's death in a hot SUV (all times local):
11 a.m.
A defense attorney says a Georgia man is responsible for the death of his toddler son in a hot SUV, but the father did not commit a crime.
Justin Ross Harris cried in the courtroom Tuesday as his lawyer delivered an opening statement jurors at his murder trial. His 22-month-old son, Cooper, died in June 2014 after being left for seven hours in Harris' vehicle. Prosecutors say Harris, who moved to Georgia from Alabama in 2012, plotted to kill his son.
Defense attorney Maddox Kilgore said there's "no doubt" the death is Harris' fault, but it was an accident. He also said Harris was involved in "sexually immoral behavior," but that's no motive for Harris "to murder the person he loved more than anybody in the world."
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3 a.m.
Prosecutors say a Georgia man left his toddler son to die in a hot SUV so he could "escape" to another life filled with sexual obsession. Now a jury will soon hear from the father's defense lawyers.
Attorneys for Justin Ross Harris were scheduled to deliver opening statements at his murder trial Tuesday morning. Jurors already heard Monday afternoon from prosecutors, who said Harris saw his child and wife as obstacles to fulfilling his sexual desires.
Prosecutor Chuck Boring said Harris sent about 30 phone messages — mostly to women and mostly about sex — on the day his 22-month-old son, Cooper, perished in June 2014.
Harris, who moved to Georgia from Alabama in 2012, is charged with malice murder. Defense attorneys have said the death was a tragic accident.
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