DALLAS (AP) - A Texas man has testified that he was paralyzed by fear when his daughter went limp after choking on milk, and he decided to dump her body in a culvert near their home.

Wesley Mathews testified Tuesday in the punishment phase of his Dallas trial that he panicked when he couldn't resuscitate 3-year-old Sherin Mathews. Her body was found about two weeks later.

He has told investigators that Sherin was underweight and he at times had to force her to drink milk for nourishment.

A medical examiner has testified that it's unlikely a child could choke to death on milk.

The trial is scheduled to resume Wednesday. Mathews faces life in prison.

He was charged with capital murder but pleaded guilty Monday to a lesser charge of injury to a child by omission.

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