Court will resume tomorrow morning for one more defense witness in the murder trial of Erica Bell. Then will come the closing statements.
Bell was back on the stand in her own defense today, followed by a defense expert in domestic violence. Bell gave more testimony about her history of drug abuse, but said it never stopped her from caring for her children. She said her boyfriend, Michael Stagles, was worried about the bruises on three-year-old Brook Stagles, but was afraid Child Protective Services would get involved if he took her to the hospital.
Asked about phone calls she made from jail in which she admitted hitting Brook Stagles, Bell said she did it only because Michael Stagles told her too. Bell said she loves Stagles but is afraid of him.
The defense contends it was Brook Stagles father who fatally injured her. The prosecution says it was Erica Bell who punched the little girl in the stomach so hard it started a fatal infection.