On trial for child abuse and failure to provide, defendant Paul John Tuncap Cruz finally got his day in court. 

The case unfolded a year and half ago following the sudden death of his one-year-old boy, Pablo.

Defense Attorney Tom Fisher told a Superior Court jury about Cruz, a father of 11 who worked tirelessly to provide for his children and their mother Giltinan Ramangmou.

“Mr. Cruz, would you please stand up so the jury could have a good look at you....thank you. The reason I asked Cruz to stand up is because he is not a monster. The evidence will show that he is not a monster. He is like me and like everybody else in this room. He's a human being who made a terrible thing happen to his baby Pablo,” said Fisher. 

Ramangmou is currently serving three years in the Department of Corrections prison after a jury convicted her last year of negligent homicide and child abuse. 

During her trial, Ramangmou echoed she is not a 'baby killer' contending she never hurt her little boy. 

Prosecutors Monday called Lt. Torres, a first responder with the Guam Fire Department, to the stand. 

He recalled the moment he saw the child unresponsive.

“I proceeded inside calling out to find where the patient was inside the house. To the right hand side there was a bedroom. I could hear a woman crying. I proceeded inside there, saw a crib at the foot of the bed with the mother crying on bed. I asked where the patient was and she pointed to the crib. I looked inside and told the medics to grab the infant so I could gather some information from the mother about what was going on,” said Torres.  

Prosecuting Attorney Christopher Gray asked the jury to help them seek justice for baby Pablo. 

He shared a list of others set to testify including the chief medical examiner to perform the autopsy. 

“He will educate us about Batter Child Syndrome. Those are the facts and it's important why I am asking you to follow the facts. Because Judge Perez just said it will be up to you to apply those facts to the law. And it's important. Pablo needs this from you. Thank you,” said Gray. 

Trial is ongoing before Judge Vernon Perez.