Trevor Averill, left, is embraced Thursday morning by his daughter’s mother, Michelle Morin Levesque, during a break in closing arguments in Averill’s murder trial in Androscoggin Superior Court in Auburn. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

AUBURN — The jury in the murder trial of Trevor Averill headed into deliberations just after noon Thursday following closing arguments at Androscoggin County Superior Court, but had not reached a verdict by the end of the day.

The jury is being asked to decide whether Averill, of Buckfield, is guilty of murder and manslaughter in the 2020 death of his 2-month-old daughter, Harper Averill.

During the trial, which began Jan. 21, state prosecutors said the baby died of “nonaccidental trauma,” which according to expert witnesses, stemmed from a skull fracture and spinal hemorrhage caused by severe back and forth shaking.

Attorney Verne Paradie addresses the jury Thursday morning during closing arguments in the murder trial of Trevor Averill of Buckfield in Androscoggin County Court in Auburn. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

The defense, led by attorneys James Howaniec and Verne Paradie, has argued that the baby’s injuries could’ve been the result of a dropping incident in the weeks prior, with injuries unknown to the parents that eventually led to the infant’s death.

During closing arguments Thursday, Assistant Attorney General Lisa Bogue said Harper Averill’s death would not have occurred if not for Trevor Averill’s conduct.

“This was not just an accident, this was not a mistake,” she said, adding that two doctors concluded the baby had suffered “intentional injuries.”

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Assistant Attorney General Lisa Bogue addresses the jury Thursday morning during closing arguments in the murder trial of Trevor Averill of Buckfield in Androscoggin County Court in Auburn. Seated at the bench is Justice Jennifer Archer. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Bogue said Averill was the only person with the infant at the time, and displayed “a total lack of concern and appreciation for the life of his child.”

Prior to entering deliberations, three alternate jurors were dismissed and the 12 jurors were given instructions by Justice Jennifer Archer. The jury must reach a unanimous verdict on each charge.

In the defense’s closing arguments, Paradie reminded the jury that it must “view the evidence through the lens of beyond a reasonable doubt.”

“As you walk in there, he is innocent,” he told the jury.

Defense attorney James Howaniec, left, and Trevor Averill of Buckfield listen to Justice Jennifer Archer Thursday morning during closing arguments in Averill’s murder trial in Androscoggin County Court in Auburn. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

The defense also attempted to cast doubt on the state’s conclusions in the case, from the doctors’ testimony to Averill’s attitude as a father.

“The state wants you to infer what he did,” Paradie said. “We repeatedly heard opinions that were not beyond a reasonable doubt.”

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In rebuttal, Bogue said the doctors who testified during the trial gave expert opinions that Harper Averill “suffered abuse at the hands of another and that’s what caused her to die.”

On Wednesday, Harper Averill’s mother, Michelle Morin Levesque, testified during the trial.

Trevor Averill of Buckfield breaks down Thursday morning during closing arguments during his murder trial in Androscoggin Superior Court in Auburn. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Levesque, the last witness for the defense, recounted her relationship with Averill from when they met in 2019 to July 26, 2020, when Harper was taken off life support at Maine Medical Center.

Around 12:30 a.m. on July 22, 2020, Levesque said she woke to Harper fussing for her midnight feeding. Averill offered to bring her downstairs.

Five to eight minutes later, Averill called out to her. Alarmed, she jumped out of bed and ran downstairs. Averill, who was neither angry nor frustrated, but frightened, was holding a limp Harper, Levesque said. She said she saw no injuries on her.

After police and EMTs arrived, the unresponsive infant was taken by ambulance to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston and then flown to Maine Medical Center, where she died July 26, 2020, after being taken off life support.

Averill faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted of depraved indifference murder and up to 30 years in prison if convicted of manslaughter.

Justice Jennifer Archer instructs the jury Thursday morning prior to closing arguments in the murder trial of Trevor Averill of Buckfield in Androscoggin County Court in Auburn. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

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