Son Faces Murder Charge After Authorities Say He Let His 92-Year-Old Father Waste Away
WEST WHITELAND TOWNSHIP, P.A., (CBS) -- A Chester County man, facing Third Degree Murder and Aggravated Assault charges, takes the stand in his own defense to give his side of the story. Prosecutors allege the West Whiteland Township man let his father waste away in a bedroom, instead of getting him medication or potentially life-saving care from a doctor.
Edward O'Brien III testified that he didn't put his father in a retirement home because, he made him a promise. He said he knew his father would die of a broken heart if he did.
On direct examination, he testified he tried to make doctor's appointments for his father, but his father would refuse to go and when asked if there was any financial motivation for him keeping his father in his home, he replied, "no sir," pointing out he had to take a leave from his job and work only part-time on his return because of the stress of caring for the 92-year-old.
Prosecutors tried to pick at his story, pointing to a transcript of the 9-1-1 call, and what they say is O'Brien's hesitation to perform CPR, and also, they say, his father never wanted to live in his son's home.
