A slender blond boy with big eyeglasses appeared to listen intently Wednesday as lawyers argued over whether he knew the difference between right and wrong when he shot his sleeping neo-Nazi father to death at the age of 10.

The defendant, now 12, is charged with murder, and if convicted could be jailed until he is 23. The boy is not being identified by The Associated Press because of his age.

In arguments in juvenile court, the prosecution contended the boy knew what he was doing, premeditated the killing and should be found guilty of murder. The defense argued he was damaged by a violent home and was seeking to protect himself and his family.

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