Charles City, IA- A Charles City teen charged with murder is appearing in court.
Edgar Concepcion Junior is accused of killing and sexually abusing his three-year-old cousin Krystel Banes.
On Tuesday, his attorney's argued to keep out evidence collected by police after his three-year-old cousin's death.
They're specifically focusing on a recorded confession to Iowa Division Of Criminal Investigation Special Agents.
Concepcion Junior walked into Floyd County District Court with his ankles shackled together.
The now 15-year-old boy, who is being tried as an adult, sat next to an interpreter who spoke to him in his native language from the Philippines.
He listened as police investigators talked about the interviews they conducted at Floyd County Memorial Hospital after banes died.
"We asked his father and his sister if it would be alright to interview Edgar Concepcion Junior," said Special Agent Jon Turbett.
Turbett interviewed several members of the Concepcion family, and assisted in the interview with Concepcion junior.
Both he and Special Agent Mike Krapfl voiced concerns about the teen’s truthfulness after the first hour of the interview.
"I had concerns because he said he had used petroleum jelly on her bruises," said Turbett.
After a short break in the interview, the investigators say Concepcion Junior admitted he sexually assaulted and choked the girl.
Defense attorney's questioned why investigators didn't read their client Miranda rights.
They say he wasn't in custody and was free to leave the interview.
"We weren't going to make it custodial, so Miranda rights were not required," Krapfl said.
The state called Charles City Police Officer William Vetter to the stand before resting.
He says Concepcion Junior told him a different story about the girl's death.
The first witness for the defense is another police officer who was first on the scene. He testified he told doctors about bruising on the girl's body.
Defense attorney's are also questioning Concepcion Junior's understanding of English.
A language expert from the University of Northern Iowa testified the boy's English is not very strong.
Defense attorney's will continue calling witnesses to the stand Monday morning.
Concepcion Junior's trial is scheduled to start in early May.
