MASON CITY, IA - The teacher charged with sexual exploitation is the final witness for the defense in her own trialBelmond-Klemme High School teacher Jodi Lynn Barrus was accused last March.
Now, after two days of testimony the defense is hoping some inconsistencies and her own words will be enough to sway a jury.
Barrus looked straight at the jury and told them she never had a sexual relationship with a student.
Her testimony is supported by previous statements made by other Belmond-Klemme students who are friends with the young man.
They say the 18 year old is a compulsive liar. One of his friends told the jury the victim's face gets really red when he is caught in a lie and his face was very red when he was questioned in court yesterday.
The victim also told police investigators one version of what supposedly happened. His friends are telling a completely different version and both stories don't match up with the one he told yesterday in court.
The victim’s friend Cole Reynolds says he couldn’t believe it when he was told what was going on.
"No i did not…you can believe about 60% of what he says.”
The teenage victim also mentioned dates of his meetings with Barrus, but she has an alibi on her whereabouts for one of those days.
Closing arguments and jury instructions are expected tomorrow morning
