(NECN: Jackie Bruno, Woburn, Mass.) – The parents of accused murderer Nathaniel Fujita are expected to take the stand Friday in his trial. Fujita is the man accused of killing his former girlfriend, Lauren Astley, when the two were teenagers back in 2011.
The testimony follows an emotional day in court.
We’re expecting to hear from Fujita’s parents Friday or in the coming days. The prosecution has rested, but they ended with an emotional testimony from the victim’s mother.
“Do you recognize this picture?”
“This is my only child, Lauren Astley,” testified Mary Dunne who took the stand on Thursday as the prosecution’s last witness in her daughter’s murder trial.
Dunne described her daughter, Lauren, as a happy 18-year-old girl who sang in her school’s Acapella group, played the French horn and was on the varsity tennis team. She had a lot of friends and even travelled to New Orleans after Katrina to help them rebuild.
But that happy girl was anything but at her graduation party in June of 2011.
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“She was visibly upset, crying,” Dunne said.
Lauren told her mother that she was being harassed by her ex-boyfriend, defendant Nathanial Fujita, so Dunne decided to intervene.
“I told Nathanial that he needed to settle down. He and Lauren were no longer dating. That this was her graduation party and she deserved to enjoy herself,” Dunne recalled.
Fujita left that party, but, the following month, Lauren’s body was found in a Wayland marsh; her throat was slashed. Fujita eventually admitted he killed her but his defense lawyer says Fujita was temporarily insane at the time of the killing. He says he was severely depressed by their break up.
Fujita’s aunt, Joyce Saba, took the stand next as the first witness for the defense.
“I would describe Nathanial as a sweet, honest, athletic.”
Fujita was at her house when he was arrested. He went there after news broke of Lauren’s murder.
“He seemed just flat. He was quiet. We expressed we loved each other but we didn’t talk about anything.”
Fujita’s aunt also detailed how sullen he was after the breakup. She said her family does have a history of mental illness.
So, Friday could be the day we hear from Fujita’s parents. They have been in court every day supporting their son.
