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Testimony: Teen Accused Of Killing Mom Was Abused

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Testimony: Teen Accused Of Killing Mom Was Abused

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EL DORADO HILLS, Calif. (CBS13) ― A 15-year-old accused of killing her own mother testified in an El Dorado County courtroom as a judge tries to determine if the teen should be tried as an adult.

Prosecutors are seeking to have 15-year-old Tylar Witt tried as an adult for the death of her mother, 47-year-old Joanne Witt, who was found murdered in her home in June. Tylar, who was 14 at the time of the murder, and her 19-year-old boyfriend Steve "Boston" Colver are accused of the crime. During day two of a "fitness hearing", Tylar took the stand to testify in her own defense that she should be tried as a minor, according to CBS13's Koula Gianulias who is covering the hearing.  Gianulias was not in court during Witt's testimony because Witt is a minor, but was in the courtroom for the rest of Thursday's hearing.

Earlier in the day, a court appointed psychiatrist said she thinks Tylar should be tried as a minor saying Tylar has "conduct disorder," which is only seen in children.  The psychiatrist believes Tylar was impacted by her mom's drinking. 

Tylar's aunt, Mary Witt, also testified that Tylar was abused by her mother saying that she saw Tyler with a black eye and bruised shoulders and legs.  Mary Witt also testified that Joanne Witt would cover Tylar's bruises with make-up and send her to school.  She says that at one point, Tylar was removed from her mother's home by Child Protective Services.

Mary Witt did testify that Joanne told her about a week before the murder that "Tylar said she's going to hurt me."

Mary Witt says she visits Tylar every week in juvenile hall and said she has seen significant improvement in her behavior.

Tylar "thrives on discipline, routine and safety," said Mary.

Koula Gianulias was in court and says Mary smiled a lot at Tylar and Tylar smiled back.

On the first day of the "fitness hearing" graphic details of what may have allegedly prompted the murder were revealed. Witnesses testified that in the days before her murder, Joanne Witt gave police her daughter's diary, which allegedly contained explicit sexual details about Steven.

Testimony reveals Joanne walked in a bedroom of her El Dorado home seeing Steven on the bed and found Tylar in the closet. She was naked. On the ground there was a chain, leash, and collar. Joanne went to the cops.

Koula Gianulias was also in court during Tuesday's testimony. Koula says Tylar seemed humiliated when her diary was being read, especially the details about sex. Tylar hung her head and covered her face.

Also in the diary, Tylar allegedly wished that her mother would die. "I pray to God she gets in a car accident today after dropping me off. I hope her car slams into a truck…and she dies from a crushed skull and pelvis."

Other testimony contained allegations that Tylar drugged her mother with Vicodin on the night of the murder and then watched as Steven slashed her mother's neck and chest.

Later testimony detailed allegations that Tylar and Steven went to see friends after the murder, doing drugs, dyeing their hair and showing off a bloody knife.

It was also alleged in court that Tylar and Steven had planned to runaway to San Francisco and commit suicide with rat poison.

Witt's attorney said the teen girl will be tried alongside Colver in the same trial if she is prosecuted as an adult.

Her grandparents were in court Tuesday and sat on the side of the prosecution. The prosecution won't comment on whether or not the grandparents side with the girl or with the prosecution.

If convicted as an adult, Witt could face 25 years to life in prison.

(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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