When the trial of eight former boot camp employees accused in the death of a juvenile offender opens Wednesday, no one will dispute that the teen died after a violent altercation with the defendants.

The key issue for jurors will be whether 14-year-old Martin Lee Anderson died of complications from a genetic disorder or if he suffocated to death as a result of his keepers' "acts and omissions" during the encounter.

The eight defendants — Henry Dickens, Charles Enfinger, Patrick Garrett, Raymond Hauck, Charles Helms Jr., Henry McFadden Jr., Joseph Walsh and Kristin Schmidt — each face 30 years to life in prison if convicted of the top charge: aggravated manslaughter of a person under 18. The jury can also consider lesser charges of child neglect and misdemeanor culpable negligence, which would carry lighter sentences.

The exact cause of Anderson's death has been in dispute since he died in a Panama City, Fla., hospital on Jan. 6, 2006, less than 24 hours after entering the Bay County Boot Camp.

Anderson, a ninth grader who was sent to the camp for stealing his grandmother's car, was only a few hours into his stay when he allegedly participated in a mandatory run for 10 minutes, then stopped and refused to continue.

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During the 30-minute altercation that ensued, seven guards took turns restraining Anderson against a pole, pinning him to the ground and occasionally kneeing and hitting him to gain compliance.

In the melee, which was captured on surveillance video, nurse Kristin Schmidt stood outside the group as guards wrestled Anderson to the ground and then attempted to rouse him by waving ammonia caps under his nose. (VIDEO)

When an ambulance responded to the scene, the guards allegedly failed to report the altercation to paramedics, who rushed Anderson to the hospital. He died at approximately 2 a.m. the next day after his family took him off life support.

In a Jan. 6, 2006, autopsy, 14th District Medical Examiner Charles Siebert Jr. concluded that the teen died of natural causes arising from sickle cell trait, a pre-existing medical condition that caused massive internal bleeding.

The findings sparked a public outcry amid allegations of a cover-up by the Bay County Sheriff's Office, which operated the boot camp program. When Bay County state attorney recused himself from the case, former Gov. Jeb Bush appointed a special prosecutor, who called for a second official autopsy.

The teen's body was exhumed, and Dr. Vernard Adams concluded that he had died from brain damage caused by "occlusion of the mouth and inhalation of ammonia."

Both doctors noted bruises on Anderson's ears, arms and thighs, but agreed Anderson had not been beaten to death.