The son of a man charged with murdering a Nova Southeastern professor took to the stand Wednesday to testify against his father.
Randy Tundidor Jr. 23, is facing off against father Randy Tundidor Sr., 45, in a Broward County courtroom, as the father faces first-degree murder, robbery, kidnapping and arson charges in the April 2010 killing of Dr. Joseph Morrissey.
Prosecutors say Morrissey was in the process of evicting his tenant, Tundidor Sr., when he murdered Morrissey in his home in Plantation.
Tundidor Jr. told the jury that his father recruited him to put "a scare" into his landlord, Morrissey.
The state says Tundidor Jr. forced his way into the Morrissey home and made the couple drive him to an ATM to withdraw $500. Tundidor Jr. testified Tuesday that when he got the couple back to their home, he tied them up and told his father on a walkie talkie to come in.
"My dad said 'where's Joe at?' I told him he's in the room, and he said, 'oh, he has to die, he has to die,'" Tundidor Jr. testified. "I told him 'no he doesn't,' but I couldn't talk him out of it."
Tundidor Jr. said he watched his father stab Morrissey in the stomach twice but said he couldn't keep watching.
"I only saw twice, I looked away, I didn't want to see that," Tundidor Jr. said. "If I could've stopped him I would have, it's hard to stop someone with a gun."
Prosecutors say the Morrissey house was set on fire after the stabbing. Morrissey's wife, Linda, and the couple's 5-year-old son were able to escape the burning home.
On Tuesday, Linda Morrissey took the stand to recount the terrifying night, saying she heard her husband beg for his life.
"He said 'please, please don't kill me, I have kids,'" Morrissey testified.
Tundidor Sr.'s attorney claims the son was the murderer. Tundidor Jr. pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death as part of a plea deal that requires him to testify against his father.
Under cross examination Tuesday, Linda Morrissey said she never actually saw Tundidor Sr. in the house.
Tundidor Sr. could face the death penalty if found guilty. His son will be sentenced after his father's trial.
The state says Tundidor and his son forced their way into Morrissey's home and made Morrissey and his wife drive them to an ATM to withdraw $500. When they returned, the professor and his wife's hands and feet were bound with zip ties before they stabbed Morrissey to death and set the house on fire.
