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Updated 10/24/2009 07:55 AM

Adrian Thomas guilty of second degree murder

By: Britt Godshalk

After three days of deliberations, a jury has found Adrian Thomas guilty of second degree murder. Our Britt Godshalk has been following the trial and joined us from outside the court house.

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TROY, N.Y. -- Adrian Thomas was found guilty Friday of second degree murder for the death of his infant son in September 2008.

Prosecutors said the Troy man caused the death of his four-month-old son, Matthew, by throwing him onto a bed multiple times, causing severe head trauma. The defense said the baby died from a medical condition called sepsis and that Thomas' nine-hour confession was coerced by police.

The jury began deliberations on Wednesday. Then on Friday afternoon, the guilty verdict was reached. Thomas sat emotionless, while his mother broke out into tears in the courtroom.

In this verdict, the jury is saying that beyond a reasonable doubt, Thomas caused the death of his son because he had "utter disregard and depraved indifference for human life."

Public defender Jerry Frost said, "I don't think any part of the evidence was heard in our case. I think we had wooden heads and stone hearts on that jury...it's as simple as that..we had a negative opinion ..As far as i'm concerned, two very rash-physicians, so called, at the Albany Medical Center Hospital."

Prosecutor Arthur Glass said, "Given the substance and the tenor of the jury's notes, they were struggling with the medical issues, and those of you who were here for the trial, hearing from eight different medical doctors and a lot of complicated, complex medical testimony, they certainly were struggling with whether or not the injury that we alleged caused the death of this child was in fact inflicted by the defendant. Again, we're grateful that they came to what we think is the correct decision."

Thomas will be sentenced on Nov. 12. He faces up to 25 years to life in prison.

The defense plans to appeal.