Two children were called to testify Monday in the murder trial of their mother, Julie Harper.
She’s facing prosecution for second degree murder in the shooting death of her husband, Jason in 2012.
The Harper kids were downstairs watching television and their father was shot to death up in the master bedroom.
Jackie is now a fourth grader. She recalled an argument. “Our dad went back upstairs and we heard a big thud."
Julie Harper told Carlsbad Police that she and her school-teacher husband were arguing and that she held a gun to protect herself from his rage; that it went off accidentally.
Jackie said her mother initially just told them that their father had fallen.
"We went to Papa's house and Julie told us he was dead; that when he fell off his chair, he got dead."
Older son Jake was in tears as he took the witness stand.
Defense attorney Paul Pfingst asked about arguments in the home.
"Hey, Jake, did you ever hear your dad use bad words against your mom?" "Yes." "Okay.. the f-word?" "Yes." "The b-word?" "Yes."
San Diego County Deputy District Attorney Keith Watanabe asked, "How do you feel about your mom now?” "I don't really want to talk about that."
Jackie, though, wasn't bashful when asked the same question. "How do you feel about your mom now?" “I don't like her." "Why not?" "Cause she killed my father."
Julie Harper wiped away tears, too.
