BOISE --Day three in the trial of Daniel Ehrlickhas wrapped up atthe Ada County Courthouse.
Ehrlick is charged with first-degree murder in the 2009 death of 8-year-old Robert Manwill.
Thursday afternoon in court, the prosecution played an hour-long tape of an interview between Ehrlick anda Boise Police detective, which took place the morning of Robert's funeral.
On the tape, Ehrlick admits he had bruised Robert in the past by swatting him on his rear end with a board.
He also says he put both knees on theboy as he lay on his back in a position Ehrlick called deadbug . Ehrlick originally denied that he put his knees on Manwill, but later admitted he'd done so in the past.
Prosecutors say Robert was killed from abdominal injuries from when Ehrlick dropped his full weight onto Robert while he lay on his back. Prosecutors and the coroner's office also say the boy had fatal head injuries.
Ehrlick told investigators Robert's mother, Melissa Jenkins, had been increasingly violent in the months just before Robert's death, and he wanted to leave her and take their younger son with him.
He claims Jenkins lied to police by telling them he was physically hurting Robert. Ehrlick says she was lying to keep their younger son away from him.
Ehrlick also said hiding Robert from Health and Welfare workers by putting him in a closet was Jenkins' idea.
As part of that detective's testimony,prosecutors showedphotos of the inside of the room where Ehrlick told the detective Robert slept. It's a small room with a window, a crib, unassembled furniture, a vacuum cleaner and bare walls.
Acrime lab supervisor testified aboutabout physical evidence collection that happened in Ehrlick and Jenkins' apartment a few days after Manwill was reported missing.
