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BOSTON (AP) — The highest court in Massachusetts will hear arguments this week in an appeal by a man convicted of first-degree murder in the death of his girlfriend's 4-year-old son.
Prosecutors alleged that Eric Durand beat Brendan Camara in October 2003 because he was angry the boy wet his pants. An autopsy showed that a blow to the boy's stomach ruptured several organs and tore his pancreas in half.
Durand was convicted in 2006, but the Supreme Judicial Court later granted him a new trial. He was convicted a second time after a re-trial in 2011.
The high court will hear arguments in Durand's appeal Friday.
Durand denied hurting the boy. His lawyers said the fatal injuries were caused by rough play with his twin brother.
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