The New Jersey murder trial of a father accused in the death of his 6-year-old son, marked by disputes between prosecutors and defense lawyers over the cause of the boy’s death, is now with the jury.
Christopher Gregor, charged with killing his son by subjecting him to abusive treadmill workouts, maintains that the boy succumbed to an infection, not injuries from repeatedly falling off the treadmill.
In his closing argument Wednesday, Gregor’s defense attorney asserted that the prosecution failed to provide evidence proving Corey Micciolo’s death resulted from blunt-force trauma and internal lacerations as indicated by the autopsy.
After deciding not to testify in his own defense, Gregor appeared in court on Tuesday, invoking audible gasps from the spectators. Closing arguments proceeded on Wednesday, with Gregor’s lawyers arguing that prosecutors did not present any police testimony, medical professionals, or expert witnesses to substantiate the medical officials’ claims about the boy’s death.
The defense maintains that an infection, rather than Gregor’s actions, caused Corey Micciolo’s death.
Gregor faces charges stemming from the 2021 incident. Surveillance footage revealed Gregor compelling his son to run at high treadmill speeds, causing the boy to fall off the equipment six times as Gregor kept increasing the speed.
On Thursday, jurors requested to review the video footage again.
Gregor contends he took Micciolo to the hospital after the boy awoke from a nap and appeared incoherent. Ultimately, Micciolo experienced a seizure and died at the hospital. Gregor is now on trial for child endangerment and first-degree murder.
Breanna Micciolo, the boy’s mother, stated she reported suspected abuse over 100 times within 18 months, but no action was taken before the child’s death.
Jeff Arnold contributed to this report.
