Local News in Brief : San Diego

A San Diego man charged with beating a 6-year-old girl to death testified Wednesday that the girl died when she accidentally fell out of a van and the girl’s mother ran over her.

John Phillip Moncrief, 31, denied beating the girl or her mother, Linda Williams, 34, who last month testified that Moncrief stomped on her daughter, Amber Avey, in a vicious attack.

Moncrief underwent vigorous cross-examination by Deputy Dist. Atty. Harry Elias about his story and will resume his testimony today.

Williams said the girl was beaten to death Feb. 21, 1986, and her body was not discovered until August, 1986, after Moncrief was arrested for allegedly beating Williams in a park. Williams said she told police about the killing only after she was sure that Moncrief, who had beaten her before, was behind bars.

Moncrief testified Wednesday that the door of the van came open, and “I didn’t see her fall out. Linda pulled over. Linda screamed.

“When she pulled over, I jumped out and told her to stay in the van.”

Moncrief testified that he found the limp body of the girl in the street and knew she was dead. He said no other cars passed by that evening. He said he carried her back to the van.

Moncrief said he suggested taking her to a hospital but Williams disagreed. He said Williams claimed her two other children would be taken away from her because others wouldn’t believe her story.

“She was shooting speed all day,” Moncrief testified.

Moncrief said he buried the girl next to the San Diego River in Mission Valley.