Teacher's Final Words: 'Bless This Child'
16-Year-Old Testifies Against Father In Trial
POSTED: Thursday, February 23, 2006
UPDATED: 9:58 am CST February 23,
2006
SAN ANTONIO -- The 16-year-old daughter of a man accused of killing an Alamo Heights teacher told jurors Wednesday about the fatal encounter she and her father had with the educator in November 2004.
Pearl Cruz, who is testifying against her father, Ronnie Neal, described to the jury how she walked in on the defendant while he was allegedly sexually assaulting Diane Tilly, who had her head covered with a sheet.
Cruz: "I was angry."
Prosecutor: "And did your father say anything to you?"
Cruz: "Yes."
Prosecutor: "What did he tell you?" Cruz: "He told me to get out."
Cruz, who was pregnant with her father's child, told jurors she was jealous of Tilly, and wanted to kill her.
But Cruz testified that after she and her father had ransacked Tilly's home and stole money from her ATM card, they drove in the victim's Cadillac to a remote area in northeast Bexar County, where Neal allegedly fatally wounded Tilly, who was half-nude, with her .357-caliber pistol.
Prosecutor: "What did she say as she was shot."
Cruz:"'Oh God, it hurts. It burns. Bless this child.'"
Prosecutor: "And were you the only child there?"
Cruz: "Yes."
In exchange for her testimony, prosecutors offered Cruz a plea bargain that would have her serve no more than 30 years in prison.
Neal, if found guilty, could face the death penalty.
Previous Stories: - February 22, 2006: Teenage Girl Testifies Against Father In Capital Murder Trial
- February 22, 2006: Teacher's Friend Helped Detectives Nab Neal
- February 21, 2006: Trial For Man Accused Of Slaying Teacher Begins Today
- January 13, 2006: Jury Selection Begins In Teacher-Slaying Trial
- July 14, 2005: Judge Sets Trial Date For Accused Teacher Killer
- January 12, 2005: Jail Inmate Snitches On Tilly Murder Suspect
- December 12, 2004: Tilly Laid To Rest With Fond Memories
- December 8, 2004: Accused Tilly Murderer Says Jail Officers Beat Him Up
- December 6, 2004: Affidavit: Tilly Raped, Fatally Wounded
- December 6, 2004: Tilly's Students Return To Class With Heavy Hearts
- December 5, 2004: Suspect Told Police Where To Find Tilly's Body
- December 3, 2004: Search Connected To Missing Teacher's Case Conducted
- December 2, 2004: Missing Teacher's Jewelry Pawned
- November 29, 2004: Teenage Suspect In Missing Teacher Case Makes Court Appearance
- November 24, 2004: Father, Teenage Daughter Arrested In Connection With Missing Teacher
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