Kelli O'Laughlin's mother called to testify by defense in John Wilson Jr. murder trial

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. (WLS) -- The parents of Kelly O'Laughlin endured another tough day Friday as the victim's mother was called to the stand by the lawyers of their daughter's alleged killer.

The defense's first witness was Brenda O'Laughlin, who was surprised to be asked to take the stand again.

She sat stone faced as the defense played her 9-1-1 call made after she arrived home from work and found her daughter Kelli on the floor of the kitchen, blood all around.

"Hurry! My daughter! I think there's been a suicide. Hurry!" Brenda screamed to the 9-1-1 operator.

The dispatcher asked: "Why do you think she committed suicide?"

Her mom responded: "There's a knife on the floor. I just came home from work. Hurry!"

It was a second extremely difficult day for the O'Laughlin's after Kelli's autopsy photos were shown in open court on Thursday.

"I can't believe the family had the courage to stay in there to see those just brutal photos," said Mary Ellen Young, a friend of the O'Laughlin family.

"I absolutely wanted to be here to support Brenda and John and their family, and Kelli, and everything that they've all been through," said Kiersten Wheeler, friend of the O'Laughlin family.

John Wilson, Jr.'s attorneys are trying to convince at least one juror this wasn't a murder, or if it was, someone - anyone - but their client did it. At times, that defense drew groans from some in the courtroom gallery.

On Friday, their numbers included several of Kelli's friends Lyons Township High School. She was a freshman when she died. Her classmates are now seniors.

The defense plans to call a final witness on Monday, then it's on to closing arguments. The judge telling jurors to expect to begin deliberating this case Monday as well.