Victim's mom takes stand in Wayland murder trial

WOBURN, Mass. (WHDH) -- The mother of Lauren Astley took the stand Thursday against her daughter’s ex-boyfriend who is accused of killing Astley after they broke up.

“This is my only child, Lauren Astley," said Mary Dunne.

Racked with pain, Dunne took the stand for the prosecution and her daughter, 18-year-old Lauren Astley, allegedly killed by the defendant Nathaniel Fujita whom she says was out of control at Astley's graduation party.

“I told Nathaniel he needed to settle down, he and Lauren were no longer dating, that this was Lauren's grad party and she deserved to enjoy herself,” said Dunne.

Fujita sobbed openly in court, hanging his head as he listened. His parents sitting behind him were in tears as well. That day at the party, Fujita had allegedly been shaking the poles holding up the party tent in the back yard.

“He said he hadn’t done anything. I told him that if there were any further complaints I would be asking him to leave the party,” said Dunne.

There were more and Dunne called his mother and she picked him up. Astley's mother was the prosecutions' last witness. Then the defense began presenting its case by calling Fujita's aunt.

When asked about Fujita’s demeanor, his aunt said, “He was fairly quiet, seemed pretty sad.”

Describing Fujita after the breakup, she said she pushed him to get a fresh start.

“I was encouraging him that he would meet many girls in his lifetime,” she said.

Instead, he was arrested at a family barbeque, charged with strangling and stabbing to death the girl of his dreams.

Both sides in this case are expected to present their closing arguments at the beginning of next week. The jury could have the case by midweek.