CHICAGO (WLS) — Crosetti Brand, who faces charges for the fatal stabbing of an 11-year-old and the severe injury of the boy’s expectant mother in Edgewater last year, took the stand on Monday to testify in his defense.
Brand is representing himself in his murder trial, as he faces more than a dozen charges.
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Monday was his first day of testimony at the Cook County Courthouse.
During Monday’s proceedings, the judge emphasized that Brand should not behave as though he had split personalities. Consequently, Brand provided his testimony while also guiding courtroom staff to present specific evidence to the jury.
Brand was acting both as witness and defense attorney, delivering his testimony to the jury tasked with determining his fate.
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“No relationship is without flaws,” Brand testified. “Laterria Smith and I had a tumultuous relationship. At times we despised each other, and at others, we were passionately involved.”
Brand is charged with the attempted murder of his then-pregnant ex-girlfriend, Smith, and the murder of her 11-year-old son, Jayden Perkins, who prosecutors say was stabbed to death, as he came to his mother’s defense.
Brand, who chose to forgo his right to an attorney, on Monday denied killing the boy.
He said an argument broke out between him and Smith the morning after he had spent the night at her apartment.
“I didn’t kill Jayden Perkins,” Brand said. “I bear witness to his own mother stabbing him. When she came towards me, she put it in him.”
Brand’s story contradicts testimony provided earlier in the trial by Smith’s ex-fiancé, who says he had just left the couple’s home 45 minutes before his 5-year-old son called, saying his brother and his mother were dead.
The March 13, 2024, attack took place one day after Brand was released from prison a convicted felon with a history of violence against women.
Smith had previously taken out an order of protection against him.
Smith has filed a civil lawsuit against the Prisoner Review Board that approved his release. Two of its members resigned in the aftermath of the attack.
Lawmakers last month approved a bill that emphasizes domestic violence awareness training for review board members.
It’s not clear whether Brand will call any other witnesses. If he rests his defense, the case could go to the jury as soon as Tuesday.
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