The death-penalty trial of a St. Cloud man charged with brutally killing his 3-month-old baby began Wednesday afternoon.

  • Larry Perry charged in 2013 killing of 3-month-old son
  • 1st responders recall emotional incident
  • 14-member jury made up of 7 men, 7 women

According to prosecutors, Larry Perry brutally beat his son to death. He is being charged with first degree murder and aggravated battery on a child.

Wednesday was an emotional day in court for first responders, as they described the last dying moments of a 3-month-old child.

“The baby had pale skin. Injuries to his face and his chest and blood coming from his ear,” said Alicia Taylor, a paramedic for St. Cloud Fire Rescue.

In the 911 call, an operator with the St. Cloud Police Department can be heard giving CPR instructions to Perry.

“Place your hand on the baby’s forehead and put your right hand under the baby’s neck and shoulder and tilt his head back a little bit,” Kelly Lacoe, a communications supervisor, is heard saying.

According to the State Attorney’s Office, Perry was taking care of his newborn on Feb. 13, 2013. Prosecutors say that when the child would not stop crying, Perry threw the child against the wall, twisted his neck and stomped on his face.

“His head is under so much trauma that it begins to swell, and now you have to hold it with two hands,” prosecutor Mark Interlicchio argued.

Jurors watched a re-enactment video in which Perry used a baby doll to explain how he handled the baby before calling 911.

Perry’s attorney, Frank Bankowitz, insinuated that Perry usually has help when it comes to taking care of his son and that this was his first time alone with the baby.

He asked a witness to confirm that Perry had said he couldn’t handle the situation and “pretty much went crazy.”

The video played in court Wednesday showed Perry apologizing for what he had done.

“If I couldn't calm him down, then his mom would calm him down,” Perry said. “I never threatened to hurt him or none of that stuff,” he said.

The jury is made up seven women and seven men. State attorney Brad King is seeking the death penalty.