3.Chrystal Ballentine — Direct/Cross/Redirect
301 linesCHRYSTAL BALLENTINE, being first duly sworn, testified as follows:
COURT CLERK: Have a seat right up there, ma'am. Once you're seated, state your full name, spelling your last.
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: My name is Chrystal Ballentine, C-H-R-Y-S-T-A-L, B-A-L-L-E-N-T-I-N-E.
DIRECT EXAMINATION BY MR. YOUNG:
BOYD YOUNG: Hey, Chrystal.
BOYD YOUNG: Take deep breaths. You all right?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Yeah.
BOYD YOUNG: All right. Can you tell me about when you met -- first met Tim Jones?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: I met him through Tammy. It was supposed to be just babysitting, but turned into more.
BOYD YOUNG: So you started babysitting for him around the end of 2013?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Yes, sir.
BOYD YOUNG: And about when did y'all's relationship sort of turn into more?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Probably about a month after I was there.
BOYD YOUNG: Okay. And at that time, did you move in with Tim?
BOYD YOUNG: And you had your daughter with you?
BOYD YOUNG: And y'all all lived together with Tim and his kids?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Yes, sir.
BOYD YOUNG: Was that about the same time that Elaine came to live with you?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Yes, she came roughly about two months after I was there. She showed up and I took care of her as my own. She was only like four months old at the time.
BOYD YOUNG: Were you there when Tim actually got Elaine from Ms. Kyzer?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: I wasn't -- I don't think I was with him. I might have been in the car, but he went in and got her himself.
BOYD YOUNG: Did he bring back any diapers, bottles, diaper bag?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Nothing but herself and the clothes that she had on.
BOYD YOUNG: So for the first couple of months, how was y'all's relationship?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: It was all right. I mean, it was decent. He took care of us.
BOYD YOUNG: This is during the -- Merah and Eli were in school?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Yes, sir.
BOYD YOUNG: And then you had Nahtahn, Gabriel, Elaine and Trinity at the house with you?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: No, Nahtahn was in school, too.
BOYD YOUNG: Okay.
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: It was just Gabe and Elaine and Trinity.
BOYD YOUNG: And so what did y'all do all day?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: I'm sorry, what?
BOYD YOUNG: What did y'all do all day?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Just normal stuff, playing, chores, stuff like that. It was just little kids, so they really didn't do anything.
BOYD YOUNG: Did you keep the house clean?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Yes, sir.
BOYD YOUNG: Did you cook?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Yes, sir.
BOYD YOUNG: Did Tim seem to appreciate that?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Yes, sir.
BOYD YOUNG: In February of 2013, did Tim start to change?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Yeah. He got more stricter, more controllive. He wanted things done his way. A lot of things changed. He didn't want me to dress the way I did. He didn't want me to -- he was just really controllive over a lot of things.
BOYD YOUNG: Were you going to church with Tim?
BOYD YOUNG: And can you tell the jury what church was like with him?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: It was speaking in tongues. It was -- it was holoco -- I don't know if it was called holoco -- I'm not exactly sure.
BOYD YOUNG: Pentecostal?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Pentecostal. There we go. It was where you speak in tongues. It was a decent church all in all.
BOYD YOUNG: Would people like fall out and roll around?
BOYD YOUNG: And that was sort of a common occurrence at the church?
BOYD YOUNG: And they had rules about how women should dress?
BOYD YOUNG: And what were those?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Dresses go below the knee, covering yourself. I mean, it was really mostly about manners and how you respect yourself.
BOYD YOUNG: And did Tim want you to dress that way?
BOYD YOUNG: Did y'all go to places to buy dresses?
BOYD YOUNG: And can you tell the ladies and gentlemen of the jury what was that like? What was --
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: It was what he wanted. He'd let me have some choice in certain dresses, but it was all dresses and mostly his decision on them. If he agreed onto it, then, yes.
BOYD YOUNG: Did he start talking to himself?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Not -- he would mumble things like what most people would. Like, oh, darn, I forgot something, you know, stuff like that. But it wasn't nothing out of the ordinary.
BOYD YOUNG: And you gave a statement in this case, right?
BOYD YOUNG: You gave a statement to law enforcement?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Yes, sir.
BOYD YOUNG: And that was on September the 9th of 2014, right?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Probably. I'm not one-hundred percent sure.
BOYD YOUNG: It was after the kids were missing?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Yes, sir.
BOYD YOUNG: And I don't know if you knew they had been found at that point in time?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: No, I didn't. They kicked in my door at 3:00 a.m. They didn't tell me anything. They said they were still searching for them. They woke up my kids, looked at them and everything. They didn't tell me one word.
BOYD YOUNG: Okay. Have you reviewed your statement that you gave to law enforcement?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: I can't read it. My eyes, I'm legally blind. I can't see small handwriting and it was an officer who wrote it.
BOYD YOUNG: Okay. The officer wrote it for you at your request?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Uh-huh, yes. So I'm pretty sure most of it's true.
BOYD YOUNG: Okay. Now, the officer wrote, February of 2013, Tim started talking to himself. He would have a conversation with himself. That was something that you said?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: No, he -- there was times where he was talking in a room. It sounded like he was talking to himself, but he always had his phone. It was more like he was talking on the phone.
BOYD YOUNG: Okay. He said, you said, sometimes he would talk to himself about what he needed to do and what the kids needed to do?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Yeah, that was him mumbling, oh, I forgot to do this or he'd be like, oh, I need to get -- you know, just the stuff that a lot of people or parents or anything does. You know, when you're frustrated or mad, you sit there like oh, I forgot this or oh, you know.
BOYD YOUNG: You said it was like someone started -- someone said something and he would answer them?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: I wouldn't quite say that. He wasn't answering himself in that type of category. He would say stuff, but it was mostly things he needed to do or things that he was mad about. You know, oh, I wish you'd change this, you know, stuff like that.
BOYD YOUNG: So if the --
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: And he was mumbling --
BOYD YOUNG: So if the officer --
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: -- as he was walking away.
BOYD YOUNG: I'm sorry.
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: I'm sorry. Keep going.
BOYD YOUNG: So if the officer wrote down, It was like someone said something and he would answer them, the officer got it wrong? That's not something you said?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Huh-uh. No, sir.
BOYD YOUNG: Your testimony is that that's not something you said?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: No, sir.
BOYD YOUNG: And then there was an incident around March of 2013 where you heard two different voices coming from his room?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: That's what it sounded like. I don't know if he was on the speaker phone or what was going on. It did sound kind of like there was two different voices, but it could have been him on speaker. I'm not one-hundred percent sure on that.
BOYD YOUNG: So if the officer wrote, he wasn't on the phone and there wasn't a TV and there were two voices coming from the room and he was in there by himself. The officer would have gotten that wrong?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Yes. Because it wasn't -- I mean, he had -- he always had his phone. And I don't know, I was locked out of the room. It could have been he was on speaker phone. Honestly, I've never seen him have any kind of symptoms of being insane in any kind of way.
BOYD YOUNG: Okay. And that was your statement in September of 2014. That was right after everything happened, right?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Yes, sir.
BOYD YOUNG: At the end of your statement in 2014, you said, he started acting like he had mental problems?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: No, after I left, he did have categories where the place was a mess, he looked kind of rough. Like, he had a stained-up shirt, growing out his beard, he didn't -- you know, he was acting off. But I don't know if it was insanity, I don't know any of that. I don't think it was. I think he was just overstressed.
BOYD YOUNG: Okay. So you never told the officer that he started acting like he had a mental problem?
BOYD YOUNG: And you never told the officer he started talking to himself and acting obsessed about the kids studying everything.
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: He was obsessed with them studying. He was very much on wanting them to make sure they did something with their life. And the times, as I said, with him talking to himself, it was more of him mumbling things that he needed to get done, you know, or this and that. It wasn't him having a conversation with himself or --
BOYD YOUNG: Or answering somebody else?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Yeah.
BOYD YOUNG: You're saying it wasn't that?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Yeah, it wasn't like he was answering himself or anything.
BOYD YOUNG: So you wouldn't have told an officer that it was like somebody --
BOYD YOUNG: -- he was answering somebody else? Do you recall when y'all broke up?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: I'm not exactly sure. It was -- I know I came back from friends and got in an argument and I just wind up leaving. It was, I don't know, roughly about six months or so after.
BOYD YOUNG: Okay. So did you send Tim an email in June of '13 saying, you know, sorry to bother you. I can tell you don't want to talk to me no more. I'll leave you alone. I guess that means you don't want me to go to your church and call you ever again. So sorry, Tim. I don't know how to prove I'm sorry. I wanted us to still be friends. I didn't know this was going to happen. I wish you'd just talk to me and say something, just anything to let me know that you read this email and I won't bother you again. Does that sound right?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: It probably is. I can't remember. I'm pretty sure probably something around it.
BOYD YOUNG: Okay.
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Because I know he got to where he didn't want to talk to me and stuff, you know.
BOYD YOUNG: After y'all broke up and you moved out, I'm going to guess it was around June of 2013, is that right?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Uh-huh.
BOYD YOUNG: At some point in time, you came back to the house?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Yeah, I came back to visit the kids and stuff. And then one time, he got me a ride from a taxi and I went over there one night to hang out with him.
BOYD YOUNG: Okay.
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: But other than that, no.
BOYD YOUNG: And what was the house like when you went back over there?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: When I went back to see the kids, it was after the time I went over there for the night to just spend time with him. It was kind of a wreck. He was kind of a wreck. It was --
BOYD YOUNG: I mean, it was a mess?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Yeah. He had trash that was overflowing. He had stuff everywhere, dishes piled up.
BOYD YOUNG: And I think you've already told us a little bit about how he looked?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Yeah, he was pretty rough. His shirt was stained. He had like a white t-shirt on. It was stained up. He didn't shave. His hair was already grown out and stuff. He was looking pretty rough and he's normally clean cut, you know, it's not -- it wasn't him.
BOYD YOUNG: That was unusual?
BOYD YOUNG: And did you help him with the house? What did you do?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Yeah, I went and started helping clean up and then me and him talked some in his room. And then I wind up leaving shortly after that. I was already with another man at the time and he was sitting out on the porch. He had to sit out there while I was in there helping him and everything. And that was the last visit that I had with him.
BOYD YOUNG: Did you leave to go get some food for the house?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: I think I went and got two Little Caesar pizzas and brought back to feed the kids, but, yeah.
BOYD YOUNG: But no groceries?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Yeah.
BOYD YOUNG: And then you met with some people from the Solicitor's office in March of 2019, is that right, earlier this year?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Might have.
BOYD YOUNG: Do you recall who you met with?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: In March?
BOYD YOUNG: Yeah.
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: I think it was the lady and gentleman right there.
BOYD YOUNG: Ms. Mayes?
BOYD YOUNG: And was Mr. Martin back there with her?
BOYD YOUNG: And is that when you told them you didn't know if Tim was on the phone or not when you heard the two voices coming from the other room?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: I mean, I don't know, I was locked out of the room, but it very well could have been. I'm not one-hundred percent sure.
BOYD YOUNG: Beg the Court's indulgence. (Whereupon, Defendant's Exhibit number 267 was marked for identification.)
BOYD YOUNG: Chrystal, let me show you what's been marked as 267. I know you can't read it, but is that your signature down there at the bottom?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Yes, sir, that is my signature. I do remember signing it.
BOYD YOUNG: And is this your signature on the second page?
BOYD YOUNG: And is this your signature on the third page?
BOYD YOUNG: Your Honor, at this time, we would offer Defense Exhibit No. 267 into evidence.
SUZANNE MAYES: Your Honor, I don't believe it comes in at this time. I think if there's a specific portion that he wants to have the witness refresh her memory with, we could do it that way. But I don't think there's been a proper foundation laid.
BOYD YOUNG: She's denying the statements that are in here and I think it should come in.
THE COURT: You can question her about it.
BOYD YOUNG: I did. She denied making them.
SUZANNE MAYES: She would have the opportunity to review the statement, Your Honor. She has not done that.
BOYD YOUNG: She said she can't read it.
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Yeah, because of my eyes. I'm considered legally blind. I went to the school for the deaf and blind. (Whereupon, a bench conference was held in the presence of the jury but out of the hearing of the jury.)
THE COURT: 267 is in subject to the objection. (Whereupon, Defendant's Exhibit number 267 admitted into evidence.)
BOYD YOUNG: Ms. Ballentine, that's all the questions I have at this time. Thank you.
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Okay. Thank you.
THE COURT: Ms. Mayes.
CROSS-EXAMINATION BY MS. MAYES:
SUZANNE MAYES: Ms. Ballentine, I'm going to show you that document which was just admitted, I believe Defendant's Exhibit 267, just so you'll have it here in case you need to refresh your memory at any point.
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Okay.
SUZANNE MAYES: I want to start by clearing up the timeframe. I believe when Mr. Young was asking you questions just a few moments ago, he indicated that you -- or I think his question was did you work for the Defendant at the end of 2013. But it was actually the end of 2012?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: That sounds a little bit more like it probably.
SUZANNE MAYES: And Chrystal, how old were you then?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: I was 17.
SUZANNE MAYES: And --
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Just turned 17.
SUZANNE MAYES: If you could pull that microphone up a little bit closer to you.
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: I'm sorry.
SUZANNE MAYES: All right. So it's the end of 2012. Does October of 2012 sound right?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Yeah, it was around right when I turned 17.
SUZANNE MAYES: All right. And at that point in time, you were a single mom?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Uh-huh.
SUZANNE MAYES: You already had Trinity?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Yes, ma'am.
SUZANNE MAYES: And you were looking for a job as a babysitter?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Yes, ma'am.
SUZANNE MAYES: And you learned about the Defendant needing a babysitter, I think you said from your friend, Tammy Monts?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Yes, ma'am.
SUZANNE MAYES: So around October, you began keeping the children?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Yes, ma'am.
SUZANNE MAYES: And this was before Abigail, also called Elaine, was born?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Yes, ma'am. It was roughly -- she was about three, going on four months when we got her.
SUZANNE MAYES: So you start around October, but by December, just that two-month period, the relationship had already changed, right?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Yes, ma'am.
SUZANNE MAYES: And you're now not only dating him, but he wants you to move in with him?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Yes, ma'am.
SUZANNE MAYES: And you were 17, he was going through a divorce at the time, correct?
SUZANNE MAYES: And when you moved in with him, did it begin right away as a full relationship?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: You could say that. It was kind of just sexual at first. It wasn't really a relationship relationship. I was just the babysitter and then it kind of turned into more where I was sleeping in his room at night, you know, and things like that.
SUZANNE MAYES: All right. Now, during the daytime when he would go to work at Intel, who would usually be home with Nahtahn?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: I was the one that was home with the children and got them onto the bus and off of the bus in the evening.
SUZANNE MAYES: All right. What concerns -- take us through the concerns that you had for the children, Chrystal, once you started living in the home?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: His discipline. The way he would whip them, you could hear it through the walls. He would take them to the bathroom. The way he made them do exercises and stand on their tippy toes in the corner. He -- he finally moved -- after we argued so much about his discipline actions, he wind up moving to just exercises, tippy toes in the corner.
SUZANNE MAYES: When you say that eventually you started arguing about it, it's because his discipline became excessive?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Yes, ma'am.
SUZANNE MAYES: And when we talk about excessive, you were actually seeing bruises on the children?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Yes, ma'am. On their back end, on their legs, going down their legs. Of course, they probably was moving. Because you could hear it through the walls, he was hitting them pretty hard.
SUZANNE MAYES: And what tone of voice would he be in when he would be disciplining the children?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Very angry. You could tell he was over angry. He should have calmed himself down before he took discipline actions.
SUZANNE MAYES: When you would hear these things happening, is there anything that the children could do or say to make him stop?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: They would ask him to please stop. I could hear it. And I couldn't do nothing about it because every time when I would -- me and him would get into it about it, he would say they're his kids, which they were, and it just -- it caused a lot of conflict.
SUZANNE MAYES: And then, eventually, was there something that you witnessed with Merah?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Yeah, with the bruises down her legs and all. It was her and Nahtahn. I think they were playing around and Nahtahn busted the window. He didn't mean to, he fell and he busted the window. And he whipped him pretty hard and then they had to stay in the corner on their tippy toes all day long.
SUZANNE MAYES: About Merah, Ms. Ballentine, I know you addressed it in your statement that's in evidence, but was there a time that you witnessed something happen with her? You could hear something happening with her?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Yeah, you could definitely hear him the way he was beating her and, you know -- and she was -- you could see the marks afterwards. She definitely had marks.
SUZANNE MAYES: And in that occasion that you were talking about in the Defense Exhibit, which is in evidence, it was because Merah wouldn't admit something to him?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Yes. He kept going on and on -- I don't forgot what it was. I think it was if she was using a hairbrush or something because she wind up getting lice. Who she got lice from? Whose brush and stuff that she was using? And he wouldn't stop and she's like, I don't know. I don't know. And he would not stop until she came up with some kid's name. And it was -- it was on for hours.
SUZANNE MAYES: And is this something you witnessed with Merah one time or more than one time?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: There's more than one time. Not just particularly with Merah, but with all the children. It's just whoever was doing something bad that day or who he thought done something bad that day.
SUZANNE MAYES: And this information that you witnessed these things and saw marks and bruises on the children, you gave that to law enforcement right from the beginning?
SUZANNE MAYES: And I think you mentioned they actually came to your house when the children were missing, right?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Yes, ma'am.
SUZANNE MAYES: Because law enforcement had learned that you had been a babysitter along the way and actually had a relationship with him. So there was a hope maybe that the children were in your house and that they were safe?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Yes, ma'am. But they neglected to tell me that they already had the kids. They already knew they were, you know, so I don't know what the whole reason that was about because they woke up my kids at 3:00 a.m. and kicked down my door and saying that they found him, but no kids.
SUZANNE MAYES: All right. Did you know at the time that he had made some false statements to the police that the children were safe back in South Carolina --
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: No, ma'am.
SUZANNE MAYES: -- with a female?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: No, ma'am. I didn't know any of that. All I know is what they wrote on there saying that they knew where the kids were at that time when they did it.
SUZANNE MAYES: So the relationship has progressed now in December of 2012, you're living with him. During that time, Ms. Ballentine, was he using drugs and alcohol?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Smoking marijuana and he would drink.
SUZANNE MAYES: And when you say he would drink, what kind of alcohol would he normally drink?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Mostly Crown and then Smirnoff's here and there.
SUZANNE MAYES: And when he would drink, where would he drink?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: In his room.
SUZANNE MAYES: Now, were there times -- do you know where he was getting his drugs from?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: No, ma'am. I was never with him when he got them.
SUZANNE MAYES: Were there times that he would disappear from the home while you were there with the children?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Yes, ma'am.
SUZANNE MAYES: Tell us about that, what you remember about that.
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: He would leave out at night and stuff and sometimes stay gone until 3:00 a.m. He would keep his door locked, pad locked it. It was just different times, but it started getting more frequently toward the end. I don't know what it was all about. He would say he was meeting up with friends or, you know, different things.
SUZANNE MAYES: All right. And when he would buy drugs, would it be with you or without you?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: When he bought them, no. It would be without me. I never was with him when he got them. He would show up at home with them.
SUZANNE MAYES: Okay. And one of the things law enforcement asked you about was, does he have any mental or medical problem that you know of?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: No, he definitely does not.
SUZANNE MAYES: And one of the things that you had described is that there were times when you would hear him mumbling to himself?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Yes. It was mostly him beating himself up because he forgot something or he had done something wrong or he was at the kids and say oh, why they got to keep doing it. You know, stuff like that. That was the mumbling. It wasn't oh, hey, what's up? Oh, no, no, you know, it wasn't nothing like that.
SUZANNE MAYES: All right. You never heard it appear as if he's talking to someone who's not there?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Yes, it was never like that.
SUZANNE MAYES: It appeared to you as if he's talking to himself?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Yeah. Or sometime -- and when he was in his room, it was like he was on the phone or something. I mean, I'm not one-hundred percent sure on those times, but I'm pretty sure he was on the phone. He always had his phone with him.
SUZANNE MAYES: Was there ever a time, Ms. Ballentine, that you felt that he did not have touch with reality?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Huh-uh, he was always with reality. He was always progressive on getting what he wanted done, making money the way he wanted, if he wanted an extra job, if he wanted extra income. He was always very sure about himself.
SUZANNE MAYES: And he was a planner?
SUZANNE MAYES: Was there ever a time that you had to tell him where he was or who he was?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Huh-uh, no, ma'am.
SUZANNE MAYES: He was always aware of his surroundings?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Yes, ma'am.
SUZANNE MAYES: And one of the questions you got before was about going to church. Did he have very stiff beliefs about what he felt was right and wrong?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Yes, ma'am. He was very -- seemed very religious. We read from the Bible. The church that we went to was like speaking in tongues, people did flop around and stuff like that. And always dress code, you had to dress a certain way. He was all, you know, furnish your own -- guys provide the money and women being nurturers, you know, having children and being a parent.
SUZANNE MAYES: And at that time, you were 17?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Yes, ma'am.
SUZANNE MAYES: And you were relying on him for your income?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Yes, ma'am.
SUZANNE MAYES: So, initially, did you go along with these ideas that he had about women?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Yeah. I mean, I put on dresses, I did what I needed to do until I finally got enough of it.
SUZANNE MAYES: And when you say you got enough of it, tell us about that. What led you to finally deciding that you weren't going to be in the relationship anymore?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: One thing was him being so controllive. I didn't even have a mind for myself to do anything. Another thing was discipline actions towards my child that wasn't even a year old, trying to whip her.
SUZANNE MAYES: Trinity?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Yes. One time, he wrapped her up too tight that I don't -- you know, I don't agree on and -- because she wouldn't go to sleep that night. It was just -- it was a lot of things that led up to that point.
SUZANNE MAYES: All right.
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: It was just the final draw was him trying to whip her the last time and I was gone off with friends at the time. And I come home to him the way he was acting and I just left.
SUZANNE MAYES: And when you say he tried to whip Trinity, she was not a year old yet?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: She wasn't a year old. She was just now holding onto things walking. She knocked over a drink or something and looked like he went to go try to whip her and I said, huh-uh, no, and I grabbed her up. He didn't get to whip her, but it was leading up to that point.
SUZANNE MAYES: Is there any doubt in your mind, Ms. Ballentine, that he always knew what he was doing?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: He definitely knew what he was doing. He knows what he did when things happened, I'm pretty sure of it. And he still knows what's going on.
SUZANNE MAYES: And when he would talk to you or express to you his feelings about what was right and what was wrong, did he ever seem to not know the difference between right and wrong?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: No. He knew it was right and wrong. He knew about God. He knew about what you should do in life. He -- he was pretty sure of himself and pretty sure of everything.
SUZANNE MAYES: During those times that you say you heard him talking to himself, was that also during the timeframe that you knew him to use alcohol and marijuana?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Yes. And, you know, he would be pretty buzzed. He liked his Crown. Everybody knows that liquor gets you drunk quicker. And he was -- he would get buzzed quite a bit.
SUZANNE MAYES: Nothing further.
REDIRECT EXAMINATION BY MR. YOUNG:
BOYD YOUNG: Ms. Ballentine, did he tell you about his mother?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Yeah, I've heard about it.
BOYD YOUNG: What did he tell you?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: That she was in a crazy place. About as far as that went. He didn't get into too much detail about his family.
BOYD YOUNG: Did you describe him as being depressed most of the time when you were there?
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Yes, he was depressed. I could tell he was, with the divorce of his wife and everything. He was still trying to settle being a single dad. I mean, he was depressed.
BOYD YOUNG: Thank you, Ms. Ballentine.
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: You're welcome.
THE COURT: You may step down.
CHRYSTAL BALLENTINE: Thank you.
BOYD YOUNG: Defense calls Sandra Black.