SAN DIEGO — The mother of former TikTok star, Ali Abulaban, took the witness stand Monday morning and testified about the day her son called her and confessed to killing his wife and her friend.
Dalal Warra testified that phone call took place shortly after the shooting, October 21, 2021.
"I just recall saying you know 'That's not funny, that's not funny Ali. Don't say that, that's not funny.' And then I received a picture, I deleted it right away. I hung up the phone and I literally fell on the ground," she said.
She testified the photo she was referring to was a photo of the victims, Ana Abulaban and her friend Rayburn Barron on the couch. During opening statements, prosecutors showed the jury the graphic photo of the victims, which was taken after the shooting.
Before testimony even got underway Monday, Warra tearfully blew her son a kiss from the witness stand.
She told the jury her son grew up in an abusive household. She said she married Abulaban's father at the age of 15, and had Ali, her first child, at the age of 16. She testified that at the age of 19, she was the mother of three very young children.
She said her son Ali was diagnosed with ADHD as a teenager, and was on medication. She said after high school, he enlisted in the military. He met his wife Ana while he was overseas. She got pregnant and eventually came to the United States to live with Ali, his parents and siblings.
Warra traveled to San Diego from her home in Las Vegas after the shooting. She said she was worried about her young granddaughter, Amira. She testified a police sergeant told her he interviewed her son, that he was funny, and that it sounded like it was Ana who drove Ali "to the brink."
During cross-examination, prosecutors tried to paint Abulaban as a problem child, who didn't listen to his parents, who got in fights at school and was suspended.
Deputy District Attorney Taren Brast had a testy exchange with Abulaban’s mother, accusing her of not being truthful from the start of this case by withholding information from police. She also questioned Warra on her answers in court, accusing her of holding back information during her testimony – especially when it came to violence in Ali and Ana’s relationship.
“I know you’re trying to protect you son, but I need you to be truthful,” Brast told Warra. “I am. I’m being very thruthful,” Warra responded.
“Did the defendant tell you that he has punched and hit Ana on a number of occasions?,” Brast asked. “Not punched,” Warra said. “Hit, yes, but not punched.”
Abulaban is expected to take the witness stand this week.
Watch Related: Defense calls alleged double murder a 'crime of passion' (May 16, 2024)