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Father testifies his son 'was already gone, and I didn’t know' during trial of mom charged with boy's 1999 murder

Black is accused of killing six-year-old William Hamilton by giving him too much cold medicine in 1999, then discarding his body in a wooded area in DeKalb County.

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. —

Powerful witness testimony was the highlight of the third day of the murder trial against a DeKalb County mother accused of being involved in her son’s death and concealing it for decades.  

Teresa Black is charged with two counts of felony murder, two counts of cruelty to children, aggravated assault, and concealing the death of another in connection with the 1999 death of her son, William Dashawn Hamilton. 

On Friday, testimony centered around Teresa Black’s ex-husband and her son William’s father.  

RELATED: She's accused of murder in the 1999 death of her son. Why her police interview may be key evidence in the case

The judge sent the jury out of the courtroom several times, as the prosecution and defense made sharp objections to parts of witness statements made on the stand. 

The defense previously painted the picture of Black being a single mother with no one to help her raise William. But the prosecution countered that argument, with the boy’s paternal aunt, Wanda Hamilton, testifying that the family was willing to help.  

“Babysit, clothes, money, whatever she needed,” she said during testimony.  

Credit: DeKalb County District Attorney's Office

Witnesses for the prosecution testified to the lengths Black went to make them believe William was alive, though he had been dead for decades.  

RELATED: Mom charged in son's cold case murder accused of causing death by striking him in head

The boy's father, William Hamilton, alleged Teresa even received child support after William had already died. 

“William was already gone, and I didn’t know that,” Hamiton said of the child support that was taken out of his paycheck after William’s death. 

Watch the father's full testimony. This story continues below the video.

William's father and Teresa’s ex-husband, Laquese Black, both testified, saying they made several attempts to see or meet William before finding out about his fate. 

Black testified he never met Teresa's son while they dated or while they were married. He said she claimed William was living with relatives in Atlanta and recalled a fake phone call that Teresa staged to make him believe he was talking to her son.  

“She made a phone call and I spoke to some gentleman on the phone supposed to be him,” he said while on the stand.  

Watch Teresa's ex-husband's testimony. This story continues below the video.

William’s aunt broke down on the stand while speaking of the memories she has of the little boy.  

“William lit up the room,” Hamilton said through tears. "He was a sweet guy."

Court recessed for the weekend after hearing from expert witnesses. The trial will resume Monday morning. 

Watch the full stream of Day 3 of the trial:

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