SEATTLE — Quick Facts:
- McEnroe convicted of 6 counts of aggravated murder
- Sentencing options are life in prison or death penalty
- His defense claims his girlfriend, Michele Anderson, forced him to kill her family
- McEnroe's aunt says that as a child, he was manipulated by his mother
The aunt of Joe McEnroe, the man convicted of killing six members of a Carnation family, says that as a child, he was bullied and hit by his mother, who used him as a pawn.
After two days of testifying about his past, his girlfriend and the murders, McEnroe was replaced on the stand Tuesday by his mother, Sean Johnson.
When asked why she was testifying, Johnson said she still loved her son.
"Because I love Joe and I don't believe he could have done this, but it's already proved," she said. "I'm still proud of the man he was."
When asked what she thought when she heard her son was involved in the murders, Johnson said she didn't believe it.
"Joe didn't seem like a person who would do that," she said.
McEnroe's lawyers are hoping his family's testimony will help the jury show leniency and sentence McEnroe to life in prison, not the death penalty.
Shortly before noon, McEnroe's aunt, Mary Turner, took the stand, talking about her nephew's childhood. Turner said McEnroe was used as a pawn by his mother.
"She would smack him on the head if he cried. She would say, 'Tough up,'" said Turner. "I had more warmth for him."
McEnroe's mother used him to manipulate his father into giving her money, Turner said.
"You could tell him what to do and he would do it with all his might," said Turner.
McEnroe's three younger siblings also testified. They said McEnroe had to drop out of high school to take care of them so their mother could work.
One brother testified that their mother was verbally abusive and called them maggots. They came to support the brother who took care of them.
McEnroe's defense maintains that his girlfriend, Michele Anderson, made McEnroe kill her family.
During his testimony Monday, McEnroe said he tried everything he could to stop the murders from happening.
At one point, he broke down and cried, grabbing his head in his hands. His outburst happened as he talked about killing Judy Anderson and looking at her face.
The same jury who convicted McEnroe will decide his punishment.
Anderson will go on trial for the murders this fall.