A Los Angeles jury is hearing closing arguments in the murder trial of Gabriel Fernandez, the 8-year-old allegedly tortured to death by his mother and her boyfriend.
Isauro Aguirre, the boy’s mother’s boyfriend, is being tried for murder, along with a special circumstance allegation of murder involving the infliction of torture, in connection with Fernandez’ May 2013 death. The prosecutor told the jury Monday that the boy’s mother, Pearl Fernandez, was abusive toward her son but the abuse worsened after Aguirre came into the picture, according to KABC-TV. She will be tried at a later date.
“He had eight months to save him,” the prosecutor said, adding that Aguirre did nothing to help Gabriel on the day he died.
“None of this stuff started until that defendant showed up.”
As CrimeOnline previously reported, authorities believe that Aguirre tortured the child because he believed he was gay. Gabriel’s older sister, 14-year-old “Virginia,” testified that she witnessed Aguirre punch Gabriel multiple times in the head on the day he died.
The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the family’s home in May 2013 and found the 8-year-old not breathing and unresponsive. He was declared brain dead in the hospital and died two days later after being taken off life support.
A nurse who treated Gabriel that day testified that the child had a BB gun bullet lodged in his groin, bruising all over his body, BB gun injuries on his neck, a cracked skull, genital trauma, missing skin on his neck, missing teeth, and cuts inside his mouth. A detective who worked on the murder investigation reportedly said authorities discovered ten BB guns, a wooden bat, and a club from the Palmdale home.
The victim’s mother will also face murder charges in an upcoming trial. The District Attorney said that four ex-social workers will also face felony child abuse charges for falsifying and omitting information from their records.
The couple faces the death penalty if convicted.
[Featured Image: KABC]
