A doctor called by the defense Friday testified that Thomas Valva may have been able to be saved despite his low body temperature.

Dr. Kenneth Zafren was called to the stand as an expert witness on hypothermia. He said that a hypothermic patient with no detectable vital signs could still be resuscitated.

The 8-year-old's body temperature of 76.1 degrees at the hospital would be categorized as severe hypothermia, but Zafren says the child still could have been brought back to life potentially hours later.

"As soon as they get to the hospital, there is a rectal temperature of 76.1 degrees - that would have been an immediate sign of hypothermia so immediately there should have been measures taken," says defense attorney John LoTurco

Thomas Valva was declared dead at 10:27 a.m. on Jan. 17, 2020 at Long Island Community Hospital.

Dr. Zafren, an emergency medical physician from Alaska, says the child could have been treated with an ECMO machine, which the hospital was not equipped with.

The doctor said that hypothermia slows down the brain and heart so a person could appear dead but potentially is not.

The prosecution argued that Thomas Valva had no pulse, was not breathing, had blue lips and appeared lifeless when police arrived. Even in the hospital, they say Michael Valva did not disclose that his son slept in a garage or that he was brought outside naked that day and sprayed down with a hose.

Attorneys for the prosecution said everyone tried to save Thomas Valva - except his father because he lied.

Michael Valva can be heard on a 911 call saying his son hit his head but did not mention anything about being exposed to cold conditions.

On cross-examination, the doctor's answer was yes when lead prosecutor Kerriann Kelly asked if Thomas Valva died from complication of hypothermia.

The prosecution has said Thomas Valva and his brother were forced to sleep in the garage for months leading up to the 8-year-old's death and that it was below freezing on the day he died.

In audio captured from home surveillance, Michael Valva can be heard screaming at his soon, saying "Boo f****** hoo."

LoTurco says Michael Valva did not recognize that Thomas Valva was in a hypothermic state, and that his focus was on his son's head injury.

The trial will continue Monday.