Tai-Ling Gigliotti takes stand in trial of tortured teen

Erica Pitzi

Brooksville, FL - The Spring Hill woman accused of torturing her teenage adopted son took the stand Saturday.

Tai-Ling Gigliotti, 51, painted a picture of the troubled teenager she had adopted, from a problem with stealing to problems at school. "He threatened to kill a schoolmate," Gigliotti testified.

She told the jury, "[Her son] has extreme interest in sex... one day I saw his interest in a young boy. He looked inappropriately at the neighbor's six-year-old son."

Gigliotti admitted to the jury she didn't know how to control him, but a few days ago her son testified that she controlled him by imprisoning him in the bathroom and starving him for a year.

During direct examination, the attorney asked, "[Her son]'s accused you of keeping him locked away and depriving him of food, is that true?"

Gigliotti answered, "No."

Her son also says she abused him repeatedly by using a rubber hose and a stick.

Gigliotti said Saturday that only happened once and it was in self defense because he attacked her.

When asked if she is angry at her nephew for accusing her of this, Gigliotti tearfully answered, "I'm more sad than angry."

During cross-examination, Gigliotti stood her ground. As the prosecutor challenged her testimony that she only hit her son with the stick that one time, Gigliotti maintained she does not believe in severe punishment.

She was the last witness for the defense.

The judge recessed at 9:00 p.m. Saturday night, saying the trial will reconvene Monday morning at 9:00 a.m. for closing arguments.

The jury is expected to get the case to deliberate that day.