DILLON, S.C. (WBTW) — Jurors in the case of a Dillon County day care operator accused in the shaking death of a child in February 2019 began hearing testimony Thursday afternoon from defense witnesses, according to Assistant 4th Circuit Solicitor Shipp Daniel.

Prosecutors in the trial of Judy Wallace Cox rested their case earlier Wednesday, Daniel said. Cox is charged with homicide by child abuse in the death of 5-month-old Jeremiah Thompson.

The trial began with jury selection on Monday, and closing arguments will be Friday at the earlier, according to Daniel.

On Wednesday, jurors heard testimony from a South Carolina Law Enforcement Division investigator and listened to a lengthy interview SLED conducted with Cox during the investigation, Assistant 4th Circuit Solicitor Shipp Daniel said.

Cox owned the day care where the incident allegedly happened and had cared for children for 15 years without any prior arrests.

Warrants allege that Cox caused “great bodily injury or harm upon a child” by shaking it in a way that “caused severe damage to the brain area and severe trauma to the eye area.”

At a bond hearing in July 2019, Cox’s defense attorney said medical records would show that the baby’s health was already deteriorating.

Experts at the Medical University of South Carolina examined evidence collected by prosecutors and found the child suffered from brain bleeding and that the cause of death was related to the abuse.

Count on News13 for updates.