Two young children have given evidence against their mother who is suspect of killing their father.
The 9 year old girl said that she does not like her mother in a San Diego court when she was asked how she feels about her mother, Julie Harper. When the court asked why, the girl replied that because she killed her father.
The girl’s elder brother also testified against his mother. The boy was so distressed about taking the stance that the court provided a support dog to help ease him.
Their faces and names is not showing just to safeguard their identities but the rare sentiment was clear in their voices as their mother stood trial for killing their father.
The children described what they heard the day their father was killed. The girl testified that they heard a big bang and their father just fell of the chair. Their mother refused them to even see their father.
Julie has pleaded not guilty to murder. She has confessed to killing her husband but said it was in self-protection after years of verbal and sexual abuse. She said that her husband lighting into her about how horribly fat she was.
Cell phone video played in court seized her frantic husband yelling at her for wasting money. Husband can be heard saying “I don’t care, but don’t force me into going somewhere until you give me my $3,000. I don’t want to enable your horrible money waste and your poor credit score and everything else!”
Julie also claimed he sexually assaulted her 30 times during their disturbed marriage. She said that she shot him because she scared that he would assault her again or murders her.
But prosecuting attorney showed photos taken the day of her custody in just her underclothes, revealing no clear injuries. They are showing her as a cold and manipulative woman.
Right after the killing, she took her children out for pastries. She also had a escape bag full with a pistol and passports.
Reporter, who’s covering the trial, said that when the little boy took the stand, he immediately got emotional and broke down. The nine-year-old girl’s face turned a bit red and it can be seen that she was uncomfortable.
The children are now living with their paternal grandparents.
