PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Prosecutors continued Wednesday to call witnesses to testify about what they saw the January 2015 night that John Jonchuck dropped his daughter 60 feet into the water.

The state rested its case just before noon, and Jonchuck's father took the stand later in the day as the defense team started making its case.

Jonchuck is charged with first-degree murder. If he is found guilty, Jonchuck will spend the rest of his life in prison. Otherwise, he'll got to a mental institution and likely never be released. 

Earlier in court Wednesday, the defense, state and judge went over the planned testimony, deciding what photos were relevant to show.

The judge eventually said one photo of each wound and only one facial photo of 5-year-old Phoebe Jonchuck would be displayed.

The photos were too graphic to air or post online. When they were shown in court, John Jonchuck broke the emotionless stare he has had for much of the trial, and a tear could be seen on his face.

One of his attorneys comforted him with a hand on his back.

The medical examiner said Phoebe fell 60 feet from the Dick Misner Bridge into water that was 67 degrees in January 2015. It took 90 minutes to find her body.

Her body temperature had dropped to 44.6 degrees, according to the medical examiner.

Warm blankets and IV fluids were used to get her temperature back to 75 degrees before she was declared dead.

Medical examiner Dr. Christopher Wilson said the cause of death was drowning, the manner of death was homicide and "contributory condition" was hypothermia.

John Jonchuck Sr. took the stand in the afternoon and talked about his son's past.

The father said his son was thrown out of daycares as a child, that he Baker Acted him more than once and that he threw him out of the house when he was 18.

Jonchuck Sr. also said his son "broke a lot of stuff" at his house.

Defense attorneys plan to argue that Jonchuck was insane at the time and that voices urged him to kill his daughter.

Stay with Spectrum Bay News 9 and baynews9.com for updates from court. You can also follow Cait McVey on Twitter.

 

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