"I was going through hell. I don't know how to get this through to you. I don't want to answer no more. I want to leave."

(photo credit: North Coast News)

As he sat down on the witness stand, Thomas Uber glared at Anthony Domenico, the man charged with assaulting him and burning down his home in a Manila homeless encampment.

Uber is still living in that encapment. Uber, is known to many as Tommy and he said it was okay for Deputy District Attorney Trent Timm to address him as Tommy in  court.

This was Uber's first time testifying. He was nervous.

As testified previously by HCSO Deputy Rogers, Uber verified that  "Doug, Steve, Paul and John" also lived at that encampment. He did not know any last names. Uber only knew Domenico as "Tony."

"I don't mean to pry Tommy," said Deputy DA Timm, and then he asked Uber how long he had lived at the encampment.

Uber answered, "I have lived there 10-15 years. I have been homeless that long." Uber said he built his home from "stuff floating up the bay and materials people gave him. I was never really finished with it." Before he built this structure, he slept on a bench in the encampment. Uber ended up there because he knew someone. When that man found a house; Uber took over his spot.

Uber told Deputy DA Timm he had a hard time reading and communicating effectively and that he had only completed 11th grade.

Then Uber started telling his version of what happened. "I was sleeping in my shack and woke up to Tony yelling faggot, faggot, and all sorts of foul things."

"I came out of my tent and saw my gate had been busted. I had a stick in my hand and held it up to keep Tony back." Uber said he dropped the stick, turned and started to walk towards his residence. At that time Uber said "Tony had nothing in his hand." This was the end of the first confrontation.

As Uber walked back to his house, "I got struck in the back of the head and went to the ground." Uber said he was also hit on the shoulder and this was in the "same blow to the head."

Uber said he told "Tony" to leave him alone and then "Tony" struck him. "I was in fear of my life. He stick the pickles on me. I hit him and ran across the freeway. At the first house, no one woke up." then he went to " my nephew's grandma's house and she called 911."

Uber said everything happened fast. Doris, his "nephew's grandma" told him not to turn around, "I was facing her TV but I did and saw flames above the trees." Uber said he knew that the flames were coming from where his house was located. The ambulance arrived and took him to the hospital, where the put "metal staples in my head."

Deputy DA Timm asked Uber if he was upset when he saw his house on flames. Uber answered yes.

When he saw the flames, Uber left "Doris'" house and ran to the freeway where he ran into HCSO Deputy Chanler Bronson.



The cross examination by Deputy Conflict Counsel Marek Reavis was brutal and as it progressed, Uber reacted and got angrier and angrier until he had a complete breakdown.

The cross examination ended with Uber telling Mr. Reavis,  "I was going through hell. I don't know how to get this through to you. I don't want to answer no more. I want to leave."

Uber asked Judge John Feeney if he could leave. Judge Feeney said no.