JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Jacksonville's youngest murder suspect will be back in court Monday.
Cristian Fernandez is accused of beating his 2-year-old brother to death and sexually abusing another child.
On Friday, Cristian was in court when his attorneys argued that he didn't understand what was happening when police interrogated him last year, nor that he could refuse to answer their questions. It's an attempt to have two police interrogation videos thrown out of the upcoming trials.
Detective Lisa Perez was one of five people to take the stand Friday. The JSO Sex Crimes Detective took the lead during the sexual battery investigation. After watching the video in court, Perez was drilled by attorneys who suggested Fernandez was treated differently because of his age.
In addition, Child and Adolescent Phychologist Dr. David Fassell, who interviewed Cristian early on, testified that weeks of solitary confinement likely had an effect on his mindset at the time, and that the then 12 year old likely didn't comprehend what was happening when he spoke to police.
"My opinion is, at the time of the interrogations...given the totality of the circumstances and his background - [Cristian] was not able to fully comprehend, understand, interpret the Miranda warnings or realize or appreciate the consequences of the decisions he was making."
Court resumes under Judge Mallory D. Cooper at 9 a.m. Monday. Expected to be called by the defense are additional psychologists. The prosecution rested on Friday afternoon.
