SAN ANTONIO -- A San Antonio woman testified in court Friday that a self-proclaimed psychic coerced her into paying more than $10,000 or else her friend would die of cancer.

"One day it would be $500," Shante Smith told jurors in the trial of Jennifer Nicole Evans, who went by the moniker "Miss Brooks."

"One day it would be $700," Smith testified. "I was giving her all my paycheck. I wasn't making my car payments. I barely had money for myself and to put gas in my car."

Smith is among nine people prosecutors allege that Evans bilked more than $200,000 in return for empty promises.

But defense attorneys argued that Smith and others voluntarily gave their client money.

Evans, who is on trial for theft, faces up to life in prison if she is found guilty.