Young Lovers Turn On Each Other In El Dorado Co. Murder Trial
PLACERVILLE (CBS13) – Two young former lovers are now blaming each other for the brutal murder of an El Dorado County woman.
Opening statements in the murder trial of Steven Colver began this morning. Colver is charged with first degree murder in the death of 47-year-old Joanne Witt in June of 2009. Witt's daughter Tylar, who was 14 at the time, has already pleaded guilty in the case and is testifying against Colver for a reduced sentence.
Today, El Dorado County prosecutor Lisette Suder painted a very dark picture of Colver to jurors saying he planned the murder, bringing a knife from his job at a restaurant and stabbed Joanne Witt 20 times because she would have sent him to prison for statutory rape. Colver was 19-years-old at the time of the murder.
She also told them Colver was into blood and gore and that Tylar changed when he came into her life. Suder also said Tylar was not even in the room when Colver stabbed her mother.
However, Colver's defense lawyer Dain Weiner has a different story claiming that Tylar killed her own mother and that Steven lied to protect the girl he loved. Weiner says Tylar called Steven in distress and when he arrived at her home, Tylar was holding a bloody knife.
Weiner claims Tylar is a highly intelligent manipulator and skilled liar who had a history of violence against her mother and others.
Joanne Witt's body was found in her home on Tattinger Court in El Dorado Hills on June 12, 2009. Colver and Tylar Witt were arrested a few days later hiding behind a restaurant in San Bruno.
