SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - Dorian Torres admits killing his father, but was it provoked?
Day four of the Dorian Torres trial in Sheboygan County Court Thursday morning saw the 19 year old defendant take the stand in his own defense.
He detailed how he struck his father Emilio with a mallet several times to the head at their apartment they shared during the late evening of January 23 of last year. Dorian added he did wrapped his father up with a shower curtain and several blankets and putting the body in his father’s bedroom, where it was found by Sheboygan Police later that month.
Defense Attorney Raj Kuman Singh presented a defense that questioned if Dorian’s actions were prompted by Emilio’s treatment of him. Dorian and brother Vicente Martinez described Emilio as a person who got very angry at times when they did something wrong, and would discipline the two by striking them with slaps to the head or a belt to the backside.
District Attorney Joe DeCecco countered this possibility by calling back four witnesses to the stand; Emilio’s ex-wife Shelly, daughter Marissa, and two Sheboygan Police Officers who were school liaison officer at Sheboygan South where Dorian attended school. Each described Emilio as a kind man who was giving to all he interacted with, and Shelly added Emilio would only spank for discipline reasons at worst.
Closing arguments will be made Thursday afternoon, and Judge Terence Bourke will announce his ruling Friday morning. Dorian is facing first-degree intentional homicide, but Judge Bourke says he will consider a lesser charge of second-degree intentional homicide and possible self defense on the part of Dorian.