Stiletto killer takes the stand in her own defense

One of Ana Trujillo's shoes sits in front of District Court Judge Brock Thomas' bench before Trujillo is sentenced to life in prison for killing her boyfriend with the heel of a stiletto shoe Friday, April 11, 2014, in Houston. Trujillo was convicted in the brutal 2013 slaying of, Alf Stefan Andersson, using a 5-inch stiletto shoe. less One of Ana Trujillo's shoes sits in front of District Court Judge Brock Thomas' bench before Trujillo is sentenced to life in prison for killing her boyfriend with the heel of a stiletto shoe Friday, April 11, ... more Photo: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle Photo: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 164 Caption Close Stiletto killer takes the stand in her own defense 1 / 164 Back to Gallery

Facing life in prison for killing her boyfriend with a stiletto high-heel shoe, Ana Trujillo could have shown remorse, apologized to the man's family or asked for mercy.

Instead, she told jurors in a Harris County courtroom how she'd been a victim throughout her adult life, including her time with her boyfriend, Alf Stephen Andersson.

In fighting back with Andersson, she said she didn't know it would turn deadly.

"I had no idea I was hitting him that hard," Trujillo said. "I had no idea I was hurting him."

Trujillo spent more than six hours Thursday clarifying her story while obscuring the events surrounding the death of Andersson. The 45-year-old woman was convicted Tuesday of murder in the June 9 killing and jurors must now determine her punishment.

Reiterating what she told police when she was arrested, Trujillo testified that Andersson, a 59-year-old University of Houston professor, would not let her leave his apartment, wrestled her to the ground and, by lying on top of her, made it difficult for her to breathe.

At times, Trujillo grimaced. She often gestured with her hands when explaining what happened that night.

The problem with her version of events, prosecutors were quick to point out, is that if it happened the way Trujillo claimed, the fight would have lasted about an hour and a half.

Instead, prosecutors said, Trujillo more likely killed Andersson about 2:15 a.m. and did nothing until a cab driver who had found her cell phone, while trying to return it, called Andersson's phone about 3:45 a.m.

When questioned about the discrepancy between the time neighbors heard a man's shouts through the walls of Andersson's luxury high-rise apartment at about 2 a.m. and the time Trujillo called 911 around 4 a.m., she said she needed a moment to think.

"I'm trying to put it all together," she said on the stand.

"Oh, I understand that you're trying to put it all together," prosecutor John Jordan shot back.

Jordan was incredulous after hearing hours of Trujillo's meandering narrative about past relationships and seeing her bawl as she blamed 911 operators not helping quickly enough the night Andersson died.

"You only cry when you're thinking about something bad happening to you," he said.

Trujillo faces a punishment ranging from five years in prison to life. If the jury agrees that she acted in sudden passion, she will face a punishment range of two years to a maximum of 20.

Andersson died after being hit in the face and head at least 25 times by a blue platform pump with a 5-inch heel. The police officer who first responded said the scene was so bloody, he thought Andersson had been shot in the face. The palms of his hands showed black and blue bruises and marks that matched the heel.

The two had arrived at Andersson's condominium after closing a nearby bar and taking a cab home. They had spent most of the day drinking together.

Testimony showed Andersson spent most days drinking wine and walking around the Museum District. He spent time in a hospital for alcoholism in the year before his death.

Defense attorney Jack Carroll said Trujillo also abused alcohol. He said it stemmed from years of domestic violence in previous relationships. She testified Thursday that she had been raped and assaulted in earlier relationships.

She testified about a domestic assault in 2009 in which she was a victim, an incident which closely mirrored the facts surrounding Andersson's death.

"I felt betrayed because he was supposed to be my friend," Trujillo testified about a man she said trapped her in his apartment and hit her.

In long and circuitous testimony, Trujillo said she was put in the same position last summer, which led her to use one of the shoes she was wearing to attack Andersson.

Jurors on Tuesday rejected Trujillo's claim of self-defense and found she, not Andersson, was the aggressor.

A day later, prosecutors called 20 witnesses in the punishment phase, including police officers who arrested Trujillo twice for driving while intoxicated and several people who said she slapped them after she was drunk.

Trujillo, who has been divorced twice, was married to her first husband for 10 years and her second for eight. She has two daughters, ages 22 and 16, who have watched the trial that began last week in state District Judge Brock Thomas' court.

Jurors are expected to begin deliberating Trujillo's punishment after hearing closing arguments Friday.