Testimony resumed in the murder trial of Sarah Boone, the Florida woman accused of leaving her boyfriend, Jorge Torres Jr., to die inside a zipped-up suitcase in 2020. Boone, 47, faces a second-degree murder charge for allegedly causing Torres’ death during a game of hide-and-seek that took a dark turn.

Boone’s defense team called multiple witnesses to the stand in an attempt to explain her actions, emphasizing her history of alleged abuse at Torres’ hands. Pearl Walker, a former neighbor of Boone, testified that she had noticed marks on Boone’s neck and arms, and Boone had confided in her about being abused by Torres.

Boone has claimed that Torres, who was 42 at the time of his death, willingly climbed into the suitcase during a playful moment between the couple. According to Boone, Torres—who was 5 feet, 3 inches tall and weighed around 100 pounds—managed to flatten himself inside the suitcase, and they joked about his small size. Boone testified, "We thought it was funny. We were joking that he was small enough to fit inside the suitcase."

However, what started as a game escalated into a frightening situation. Boone explained that she left Torres in the suitcase because she feared how he would react if he got out. "I’m always afraid and always scared,” Boone said, explaining that she often felt in danger during their relationship.

As part of Boone's defense, Dr. Julie Harper, a psychologist with 22 years of experience, testified that Boone’s behavior could be attributed to battered spouse syndrome. Harper, who had reviewed Boone’s records and interviewed her prior to the trial, explained that individuals suffering from this syndrome often act out of fear for their safety. “The person would experience a trauma or a situation where they feared harm and, based on that fear of harm, they would react in a certain way that might not be understandable to other people,” Harper told the jury.

Dr. Harper also noted that Boone exhibited some narcissistic traits but emphasized that the trauma from the abusive relationship played a significant role in her actions that night. According to Harper, Boone's fear of Torres' potential violent outbursts influenced her decision not to let him out of the suitcase, even as the situation spiraled out of control.   

Boone admitted to moving the suitcase several times, eventually leaving it zipper-side down. She also recorded a video of Torres while he was still inside, which the prosecution played for the jury. In the video, Torres can be heard begging to be let out, while Boone is heard laughing at first and then refusing to release him. Boone testified that she filmed Torres as a way to express her feelings while feeling “safe” in the moment. "I wanted him to understand," she said, noting that the video was meant to be shown to him the following day.

Assistant State Attorney William Jay challenged Boone’s defense, arguing that her actions were intentional and malicious. In his opening statement, Jay told the jury, “She did this with the malicious intent to punish him and then she went up to sleep and left him to take his final breaths on this Earth alone.”

The prosecution highlighted Boone’s lack of emotional response during her 911 call the next day, pointing out the absence of tears or visible remorse. “What you will not hear are tears. (...) You will not hear sorrow,” Jay said. He argued that Boone showed no regard for Torres’ life, and her actions went far beyond self-defense.

Boone’s defense maintains that her actions were the result of years of abuse, and they insist she had no intention of killing Torres. However, prosecutors pointed out that Boone never mentioned self-defense during her initial interrogation by authorities.

As the trial continues, the jury must determine whether Boone’s actions were motivated by fear stemming from a history of abuse or if she acted with malicious intent to punish Torres. Both sides are expected to present further evidence in the coming days.

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