News

Williams trial: Kids say they aren't lying about abuse

Day 16 in the Skagit murder and abuse trial as two kids took the stand -- only to be called liars.

Immanuel Williams, who is deaf, said through an interpreter that he is not lying about how his adopted parents Larry and Carri treated him.

The Ethiopian boy says he and his adopted sister Hana were hit with belts, a switch and spatula. The pair slept in closets and were fed frozen food outside while the couple's own seven children ate indoors.

"Have you told the truth about everything that you've testified to in court?" asked prosecutor Rosemary Kaholokula.

"Yes, yes, yes," said Immanuel.

The 11-year-old says he was excluded from holidays as punishment for misbehaving.
But the defense showed a picture of him playing with a toy gun Christmas morning in 2009.
Immanuel explained it was staged.

"No, no, they gave me that for the picture only." He said.

Prosecutors then went after their own witness—Joseph Williams, who admitted he never wanted to testify against his parents.

I've been answering these questions because I have to," said Joseph.

The 16-year-old was first interviewed by officers 2-years ago—after he and his siblings were taken by CPS.
Back then, Joseph said Hana was unable to eat or stand up the night she died.
He said his mother and brother hit her with a switch when she would sit down to rest outside.
When asked the same questions today and Friday, he simply said, "I don't remember."

Williams did remember warning his sisters to keep quiet about what happened in the gated Sedro-Woolley home.

"Don't tell them anything." He said.

Want to talk about the news of the day? Watch free streaming video on the KIRO 7 mobile app and iPad app, and join us here on Facebook.