San Diego

The mother of a slain 6-year-old girl gave tearful testimony Wednesday that her former boyfriend beat the girl to death.

Linda Williams, 34, testified against John Moncrief, 31, of San Diego, who is charged with murder in the Feb. 21, 1986, death of Amber Avey.

The girl’s body was discovered in September, 1986, in a shallow grave near the San Diego River in Mission Valley. The pathologist who performed the autopsy, John Eisele, testified Tuesday that the girl had suffered at least 26 rib fractures and four pelvis fractures.

Williams said the beating occurred while she was driving the couple’s van. Moncrief became angry when one of her other children began crying, she said.

“He was slapping her in the face,” said Williams.

She said Moncrief kicked the girl in the stomach. She stopped the car and helped her daughter wipe blood from her face in a restroom, Williams testified.

The battering resumed when she started driving, Williams said. She said she saw Moncrief stomp on the girl.

She admitted that she didn’t call police or tell anyone about the killing until seven months later when Moncrief was arrested for assaulting her in a park. Williams said she was afraid of Moncrief and didn’t think anyone would believe her story.

Moncrief’s attorney, C. Logan McKechnie, said in his opening statement last week that the injuries the girl suffered were from being accidentally run over by the van while Williams was driving.

Williams will resume her testimony Thursday morning before a jury and San Diego Superior Court Judge Terry O’Rourke.