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Despite confession, ex-midshipman denies intent to kill

Zamora
Zamora describes the murder
 
icon VXtreme Video
Excerpts from Zamora's testimony
February 10, 1998
Web posted at: 8:49 p.m. EST (0149 GMT)

FORT WORTH, Texas (CNN) -- Former Navy midshipman Diane Zamora took the stand in her own defense Tuesday and emotionally denied ever urging her boyfriend to kill a 16-year-old romantic rival, despite giving a confession in which she admitted screaming, "Kill her! Kill her!"

Zamora, 20, told police in a written statement after being arrested that she screamed at former boyfriend David Graham to kill Adrianne Jones, and even helped by pounding the teen-ager with dumbbell weights.

On Tuesday, Zamora said her confession was false, and denied hitting Jones or knowing that Graham intended to kill her. Zamora finished an emotional day on the stand answering questions from her attorney. Cross-examination of Zamora begins Wednesday.

Zamora is accused of murder in the December 1995 killing of Jones. Graham, Zamora's former fiance and an ex-Air Force cadet, is accused of shooting Jones and will be tried later.

Prosecutors contend Zamora urged Graham to kill Jones because Zamora was jealous of a one-time sexual encounter between Jones and Graham. Prosecutors also say Zamora knowingly participated in events leading to Jones' death. They are not seeking the death penalty against her.

Zamora said she only wanted to talk to Jones when Graham set up a meeting on December 5, 1995.

Zamora sobbed and trembled on the witness stand as she answered questions about the night Jones was killed in a pasture on a deserted road. She said she did not believe Graham when he told her several times that Jones was dead.

She repeatedly testified that she never had the "purpose or intent" of killing or harming Jones. She also repeatedly denied knowing that Graham intended to kill or harm the woman.

She said she did not hit Jones as Jones and Graham scuffled in the front seat of a car on the night of the murder.

Jones was killed with a 9 mm handgun after fleeing the car. "She fell and I didn't see her after that," she said, shuddering and crying. "It was like a horror movie."

Before the lunch recess, Zamora testified at length about an abusive sexual relationship with Graham.

Zamora told of several occasions when Graham shoved a 9 mm pistol between her legs or into her mouth. She said he liked to have sex in ways that were similar to rape. She recounted numerous times when she said she had sex with Graham when she did not want to.

Zamora testified that Graham said, "I was his, that he owned me and that he could have sex with me any time he wanted to."

Zamora also testified about a painful home life, saying she grew up in a family where her parents argued bitterly and were sometimes physically violent. She said she once tried to commit suicide.

Zamora said Graham owned or co-owned with friends a large number of guns. She said Graham usually carried a weapon when they went out together.

She said Graham and his friends were "military nuts" who were preoccupied with firearms.

The two were arrested in September 1996 after Zamora told a friend she had once killed for love.

 
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