A Los Angeles man is on trial for the brutal murder of an 8-year-old boy he allegedly tortured and killed because he thought the child was gay.

On Monday, the L.A. County District Attorney's Office recounted how Isauro Aguirre and Pearl Fernandez beat and whipped Fernandez's son, Gabriel. How they bit him and burned him with cigarettes, sprayed him with pepper spray, starved him, and fed him cat feces and his own vomit. (Fernandez is being tried separately.)

Gabriel was reportedly kept gagged and bound in a small cabinet until first responders found him on May 22, 2013.

But, prosecutors allege, Aguirre and Fernandez only called emergency services to mislead authorities. “They didn’t call 911 to help Gabriel. They called 911 to cover up what they did. The defendant lied on the 911 call.”

Gabriel was hospitalized but died two days later. A paramedic testified the amount of trauma on his body was "unbelievable."

Aguirre admits to causing the injuries, but insists it was in an explosive rage after Gabriel told his mom to leave him. "He is guilty of murder, but the special circumstance alleged, that he intended kill Gabriel with the infliction of torture, is not true," defense attorney John Allan said. "Despite the horrific abuse, Isauro never intended for Gabriel to die."

Earlier, Aguirre rejected a plea deal that would've taken the death penalty off the table.

During opening arguments, prosecutors showed the jury tools Aguirre used to torture the boy and claimed he made Gabriel dress up in girls' clothes to go to school. His hatred for the boy, and his belief he was gay, were the prime factors in the murder, said prosecutor John Hatami.

“Gabriel’s last vision was that man over there standing over Gabriel, beating him to death,” said prosecutor John Hatami. “The evidence will show that the defendant is nothing more than a bully. He was a security guard who intentionally tortured and abused a helpless and innocent little boy.”

Four Los Angeles County social workers assigned to the boy's case also face charges.