ROGERSVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- A Hawkins County jury will begin deliberating the fate of a Hamblen County foster father Friday.

Kenneth Taylor is charged with first degree murder.

His foster child, Jordan Shelton died in November of 2007 after being placed in a chokehold by Taylor.

Taylor says it's self-defense.

The judge said he expected closing arguments to begin at nine Thursday morning but due to some issues surrounding the charging of the jury, deliberations didn't begin until two that afternoon.

Prosecutors opened first.

Kevin Keaton told jurors Kenneth Wayne Taylor was guilty of aggravated child abuse and first degree murder.

He pointed to the length of time he held Jordan Shelton, that blood vessels burst in his eyes and lips.

That was something the medical examiner testified she had never seen so serious before.

But defense attorney Herb Moncier maintained Shelton had a mental illness and was prescribed medicine that he did not take to control his anger, that he was violent, and Taylor had an obligation.

"Pulling his neck and his head back and he's saying to him, What makes you think you can hit me?" As he's doing this, he's teaching him a lesson. He's showing him who the boss is," says prosecutor Kevin Keaton.

"By a court order, making him a parent. He is required under the law to restrain and control minors in his home," says Herb Moncier, Taylor's attorney.

The jury will begin deliberating on the first degree murder charge Friday morning at 9.

If they can't agree on that they can then deliberate on lesser charges ranging from second degree murder all the way down to reckless homicide.

The same also applies for the aggravated child abuse which has a lesser charge of simple assault.