Opening arguments started Monday in the trial of a man accused of severely physically abusing his 9-week-old son.

John Nerone's defense attorneys said they plan to prove there was a deep, dark secret in Nerone's family that will prove his innocence.

Prosecutors said they will prove that the infant's brain was bleeding, he had broken ribs and his skull was fractured. They will call experts to testify that there had been past abuse and that the baby had dried blood on his brain and old bruising.

The prosecution's first witness, a paramedic who responded to Nerone's 911 call, said when crews arrived at the scene the baby was lifeless and struggling to breath, like a fish out of water.

The infant lived, but is on a feeding tube and will have some developmental issues.

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