(COLORADO SPRINGS) — Opening statements have begun in the trial for an El Paso County father, Ryan Sabin, accused of murdering his 11-year-old son. The case centers around whether the child’s passing was the result of forced water intoxication, a claim now being challenged by defense attorneys.

Three years ago, the El Paso County Coroner had concluded that 11-year-old Zachary Sabin died after being forced to drink 96 ounces of water in a four-hour span, with no food intake. However, Jeff Barker, the defense attorney, now contends that there is insufficient evidence to support this cause of death, thereby invalidating what was previously thought to be established facts in the case.

Ryan Sabin and Zachary’s stepmother had instituted a water-drinking rule due to the child’s urological issue, claiming that he had not followed this regimen at school on that day.

During opening statements, Prosecutor Jennifer Viehman presented a timeline that painted a picture of Zachary’s final hours. The prosecution highlighted various signs that Sabin allegedly ignored, including Zachary’s gagging and vomiting, complaining of leg pain, and his inability to stand. As the night progressed, Viehman says Sabin’s frustration seemingly grew, leading to verbal and physical harm inflicted on his son.

Records from a police interview conducted the morning after Zachary was found dead in his bed with foam emanating from his mouth and blood on the sheets revealed Sabin’s remorse for his actions. In this interview, he admitted to allowing his anger to get the better of him when dealing with his son.

While Barker acknowledged that Sabin could have handled the situation differently, he vehemently argued that the cause of Zachary’s death had not been adequately investigated.

Barker asserted that the former detective on the case had provided erroneous information regarding the quantity of water Zachary had consumed.

Moreover, he contended that Zachary’s symptoms resembled those of a kidney disorder, but the coroner failed to conduct comprehensive testing to ascertain the presence of such a disorder.

Over the next two weeks, both the prosecution and defense will make their arguments to persuade the jury about the true cause of Zachary’s tragic death.