He's Accused of Beating His Mother to Death in Front of His Young Son — and He Has a Shocking Defense

A North Carolina man accused of murdering his mother and attempting to murder his father will soon learn his fate.

Jury selection in the Christopher McCullough trial is underway this week, with opening statements expected in the case early next week.

McCullough is facing charges of murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, larceny, violating a protective order and assault, among others.

Officers responded to a home on the afternoon of Aug. 6, 2023, to find John and Mary McCullough “suffering from serious injuries” after being beaten in their home, a news release from the Raleigh Police Department said at the time.

McCullough was identified as a suspect and charged with assault at first, and then murder after his mother died a few days later.

Court filings claim that after he allegedly beat his mother to death and rendering his father unconscious, McCullough kidnapped the couple’s dog and drove off with his son in a vehicle he stole from his parents.

Those court filings also claim that his 5-year-old son allegedly witnessed his father fatally beating his mother.

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Now 6, McCullough’s son will testify during the trial and could prove to be the star witness for prosecutors.

The judge has agreed to let the boy testify remotely and stated in an order filed on April 25 that there will be a therapist present.

At the time of the alleged attack, a protection order was in place against McCullough, which had been taken out by the suspect’s father.

McCullough’s defense cites a claim of “voluntary intoxication,” according to a copy of the motion his lawyer submitted to the court on March 31. This means that McCullough knowingly drank until he was heavily inebriated on the day he’s accused of beating his mother to death.

The voluntary intoxication defense does not address whether McCullough did what he’s accused of; rather, it addresses his mental state at the time. McCullough and his attorney have offered up no details as to how they plan to introduce this claim or use it as a defense, but often in murder trials it is used to suggest that a defendant had a diminished capacity at the time they committed a crime and therefore did not kill with malice.

PEOPLE reached out to McCullough’s lawyer who did not respond to a request for comment.