The former boyfriend of an eastern Pennsylvania woman charged in the beating death of her 15-month-old son last year has testified that the baby "always had injuries."
Thirty-five-year-old Essence James of Allentown is on trial in Lehigh County Court in the March 2013 death of Cordero James.
Michael James, who is no relation to Essence James, testified Thursday that he saw bite marks, a black eye and bruises on the child, and Essence James told him they happened at someone else's house.
The Express-Times reports that Michael James reported seeing the defendant ``pop'' the boy several times but never saw her severely abuse the child.
Two earlier plea deals that called for a third-degree murder plea fell apart after Essence James denied responsibility for the child's death.
