JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Prosecutors began laying out their case Tuesday against a Jacksonville man accused of killing his girlfriend's 19-month-old son.
Antwan Johnson, (pictured, right) 30, is facing third-degree murder charges for the death of Marquez Curtis last April.
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The medical examiner testified that Marquis' body was severely brused all over and that he died of blunt trauma to the head.
The toddler's mother, April Curtis, 20, is cooperating with prosecutors in the case against Johnson. She pleaded guilty to child neglect in connection with her son's death.
Curtis tearfully testified against her former boyfriend Tuesday, telling the court she saw him repeatedly beating the child.
"I saw Antwan take his belt and hit Marquis two times on his left shoulder, and he took Marquis by his arm and threw him on the love seat," Curtis (pictured, right) said.
Curtis testitfied that Johnson frequently hit and threatened her, but she moved in with him anyway. Three months later, Marquis was dead.
If convicted, Johson faces up to 15 years in prison.
