Defense claims medical reason for death of Thomas' son

TROY - Testimony began Friday in the Renssealer County case of Adrian Thomas. The Troy man is accused of killing his 4-month-old son Matthew.

Prosecutors say Adrian Thomas threw his son down three times over four days in September 2008. The defense says the boy was very sick and that's what led to his death.

The trial began Friday morning in Judge Andrew Ceresia's court in Rensselaer County.

The 27-year-old father of six took notes and listened to opening statements and testimony from witnesses including his wife, Wilhemina Hicks, the mother of his children.

Thomas is accused of repeatedly throwing his son down onto a mattress and box spring that sat on the floor of their apartment.

"His son wouldn't stop crying. So what did he do? He picked up his infant and then threw him down onto the bed because he was frustrated," Assistant District Attorney Christa Book said during her opening statement.

Thomas' public defender, Ingrid Effman, says Matthew was instead suffering from septic shock. That's when the body isn't able to supply proper blood flow to the organs.

"The district attorney's office will be unable to prove to you beyond a reasonable doubt that this baby died from anything other than overwhelming septic shock, plain and simple," Effman told the court.

The prosecution is relying on nine hours of video taped interrogation of Thomas in which they say he confessed to the crime. It has yet to be shown to the jury.

The trial will resume Monday morning.