ROUND ROCK, Texas — The trial for Terry Miles -- the man accused of kidnapping two Round Rock girls before they were found in Colorado -- is nearing its end.
Defense rested their case Monday afternoon. This comes after the prosecution rested their case last week.
Miles allegedly took the girls, who were seven and 14 at the time, from their home in December 2017. Police found their mother, Tonya Bates, dead at the home.
Earlier in the trial, the older Round Rock girl described physical and sexual abuse she said she endured.
On Monday, defense started and finished their arguments quickly as they worked to show Miles as a protector of the girls.
Witnesses testified to a time when Bates, Miles and the girls were staying at a homeless village. They said a woman named Christine started yelling that Bates owed her money and later got in a fight with Bates' teenage daughter.
Lloyd Griffin IV, one of the witnesses, testified that he watched as Miles pushed the older woman away from the teenager.
Ariane Eigler, a mitigation specialist, took the stand later Monday morning. She went over reports from the teen's therapist, depicting that the teen's story of what happened changed over time.
Prosecution argued the teen testified that Miles told her to lie to authorities.
Doris Bargmann, an investigator with the public defender's office, said Miles was listed as an additional driver on Bates's car insurance.
Closing arguments will begin Tuesday morning.
Follow reporter Molly Oak on Twitter for updates from the courtroom.
