"Do you think anyone deserves to die for calling someone a faggot?; "Do you think someone should die for calling someone a fat bitch?" Response from Ferrer's friend is telling

Tonya Netjes was one of three defense witnesses to testify on Thursday in the Juan Ferrer case. Ms. Netjes attended some court hearings during jury selection and evidence hearings.

Ms. Netjes said she met Juan Ferrer in December 2012 and worked with him at a Arcta "residential facility for individuals with developmental facilities." They became friends. She met his family and has been dating Ferrer's sister for three and half years. While same sex marriage is not yet legal, said Ms. Netjes, she considers Ferrer a brother-in-law.

Ms. Netjes testified that Ferrer could calm clients with "disruptive behavior", she gave an example where he diffused "a situation" with a physically aggressive client.

In response to a question, she said she had talked to Ferrer about trial dates but didn't discuss "much with him" about the case.

On cross, DDA Roger Rees asked Ms.Netjes, "You think he is a peaceful but didn't want to discuss stabbing? He also asked her, "If you are family, you would not snitch on him?"

When he tried to ask Ms. Netjes, "Did you tell anyone you were fired from your job? Ms.Netjes got peevish; did not want to answer. Then DDA Rees asked her if she said this was to a receptionist on the fourth floor of the courthouse. "That was due to a personal matter." She did not want to answer. Mr. Reavis objected. The attorneys approached the Judge.

When they came back, Mr. Rees asked her, "You think the defendant is a good guy?"

Ms. Netjes responded, "Yes."

Mr. Rees: "Do you think some good guys do bad things?"

Netjes: "It's possible."

Mr. Rees: "If you found out that the defendant stabbed Doug, would it change your opinion of the defendant?"

Netjes: "No."

Mr. Rees: "Do you think anyone deserves to die for calling someone a faggot?

Netjes: "No."

Mr. Rees:  "Do you think someone should die for calling someone a fat bitch?"

Netjes: "I don't believe it is up to me to decide."

Mr. Rees then asked a series of questions asking if a peaceful person would walk away from confrontation, would a compassionate person call for help if someone was hurt. Ms. Netjes response to one of those questions was, "I guess if someone had a chance to walk away."

Mr. Rees asked her, "Is the defendant someone who would yell profanities."

Ms. Netjes responded, "I knew him mostly from work."

Mr Rees, "Aren't you dating his sister?"

When Mr. Rees pointed actual testimony and how Ferrer's character as peaceful was inconistent with his behavior, Ms. Netjes responded, "I think anyone who has homophobic or fatphobic comments hurled at them has the right to defend themselves by any means."

Mr. Rees: "Were did you get that understanding?"

Netjes: "I attended court hearings and preliminary hearings and those points were brought up."

Mr. Rees: "Other than knowing the defendant as a peaceful person, you have no idea what happened that night."

A point Ms. Netjes had to acquiesce to.

The next witness was Amelia Pepper-Day. She also worked with Ferrer and became friends. She described him as compassionate and positive and honest. Mr. Rees asked some similar questions to Ms. Netjes such as If it is in character to help people," why he didn't call for help for Anderson that night to which Pepper-Day responded with ,"It would depend on the circumstance." Then when he asked her about the defendant's honesty and that he lied to law enforcement, her response was everyone lies.

The last friend to testify was Michael Van De Walker who was a childhood friend and had not seen Ferrer face to face in 16 years and communicated mostly through facebook, email. He said, 'It was very clear Joey was a pacifist."Similar questions to other friends and this witness got snappy when confronted with questions that did not fit his description of Ferrer.