With tears in the eyes of several in the courtroom, 9-year-old Patricia Diane Winkler took the stand on Monday afternoon to testify for the prosecution against her mother, Mary Carol Winkler, in the shooting death of her father, Matthew Winkler.

Patricia entered the camera-free courtroom nervously and told the judge that she knew what the truth was and honored to tell her side of the story truthfully.

It did not take long for the tears to start pouring from Patricia’s eyes after seeing her mother and recalling the events of that morning. Patricia began to sob uncontrollably after looking at her mother while the Assistant District Attorney Walt Freeland simply asked her what her birthday was. A few minutes after being consoled by the judge, Patricia answered the prosecution’s questions and recalled the happening of the day her father died.

On the morning of March 22, 2006, Patricia awoke to the sound of a “big boom”, as well as a sound that “seemed like someone fell”. Unaware of what this sound was she rushed to her parents’ bedroom. It was there in the open door frame that she discovered her father laying face down on the floor and her mother just walking around. Patricia stood there observing her father groaning before her sister, Allie, came to the same door frame. Shortly after, Patricia said that her mother saw them in the door frame and quickly shut the door.

“We were scared,” Patricia said after viewing her father’s injured body. Once the door was closed, Patricia said neither she nor Allie knew what to do so they just sat there outside the door.

Although Patricia testified that she knew what 9-1-1 was, a call was not made by any of the Winklers, even though Mary said an ambulance was in route to take her father to the hospital after she emerged from the bedroom and gathered the girls up to begin their journey to Orange Beach, Ala.

Freeland also asked Patricia if she had ever witnessed her father being bad or harmful to her mother. Patricia simply replied, “No.”

When asked about their trip to Orange Beach, Ala., Patricia said, “She said we were going somewhere special.”

The state ceased their questions, and Defense Attorney Steve Farese began his cross-examination, but not from his usual point of addressing, the podium. After asking her if it was okay, Farese questioned Patricia in the seat next to her mother.

Farese first asked her if she had had a good Christmas, listing the numerous presents she had received from her Nana and Poppa. Farese asked her if she remembered what she had gotten for Christmas in 2004, but she couldn’t remember anything but one present. He also asked her if she had enjoyed the two trips she had had to Disney World in the past year. She, of course, said “Yes.” Farese also asked if she had been to Disney World prior to living with her grandparents. Patricia replied, “No.”

Patricia’s one visit with her mother when she was released from jail became the next topic pursued by Farese. Patricia said that she enjoyed seeing her mother and gave her hugs and kisses. They did not talk about what had happened in March 2006, but she hesitated when Farese asked her if, at that visit, she wanted to see her mother again. After a pause, Patricia said, “I don’t know.”

After Farese asked why Patricia did not see her mother anymore after the one visit, Patricia began to sob while saying, “Because I didn’t want to see her. Well, I mean, I still love her.”

The judge consoled Patricia, and Farese approached to give her a tissue, as well to whisper something to her that was off the record. There were no further questions at this point.

While it did not take as long for the questioning to cease, the emotional impact was great for the majority of individuals in the courtroom. Several times during Patricia’s testimony, Mary Winkler, other family members, jury members and even members of the media could be seen with tears in their eyes.