Former Lovers Testify in Taft Murder Case

8/17/2012 (Updated 6:55:27 PM)

(Source: Kate Thornton)

Two of Veronica Taft's former lovers were called to the stand Friday as the prosecution wrapped up the first week of her trail for the murder of her son.

Detectives say her son, Lyric, died in their Binghamton home at 4 1/2 Fayette Street from blunt force trauma back in December of 2010.

Friday, prosecution called on two of taft's former lovers, Jesse Noell and Charles Pratt.

Pratt was watching Taft's children, including Lyric, while she was at work at Binghamton High School the night lyric allegedly died. 

Pratt testified that the few times he went into the children's room, he said Lyric appeared to be asleep along with Taft's other three children.  Pratt said it wasn't until the next morning when they noticed something wrong with Lyric. 

The 9-1-1 call that was placed from Pratt's cell phone that morning was played for the jury on Friday.

On the recording, Taft was hysterical, and the 9-1-1 operator had a difficult time understanding her.

Noell testified that he received a phone call from Taft in January 2011.  He said Taft admitted to grabbing Lyric, shaking him, kicked him, then put him to bed.  During the defense questioning, Noell admitted to lying to the police.  Noell told police that Pratt was the one who killed Lyric to protect Taft.

The mother of a friend of Taft's,  Cindy Rose told Fox40 that her daughter Katrina called child Protective Services on Taft several times after seeing bruises on Taft's oldest daughter.  Rose said she feels CPS didn't do their job. 

The trial will continue on at 9am Monday.

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