TRUMANSBURG, N.Y. -- A Trumansburg man accused of murdering his father was back in court Monday. Police say Matthew Taranto, 28, shot his father, Sal Taranto, in the stomach several times in the basement of their home last week.

Taranto waived his right to a preliminary hearing and the case will go before the grand jury.

Defense attorney Scott Miller said the younger Taranto acted in self-defense after his father came into his bedroom with a loaded gun and threatened to shoot him. Miller said several witnesses have come forward claiming to have seen violence between father and son before.

"They actually witnessed the father engage in public aggressive displays against the son that brought the son to tears," Miller said. "In fact, one individual that came forward was so shaken by it, she had to have another person come and calm her down because she witnessed this incident. These are people that have no interest in this case, no connection to it."

Miller also pointed out that Taranto is diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome. He was remanded to the Tompkins County Jail without bail.

The prosecution declined to comment on the case.