Prosecution grills firefighter in West Adams battery trial

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- An L.A. firefighter accused of assaulting a woman in a dispute over feeding stray cats in West Adams took the witness stand for the second day on Tuesday.

Ian Eulian, 38, and his mother, Lonieta Fontaine, 71, are seen on surveillance video in a physical altercation with 47-year-old Rebecca Stafford during a heated argument in September 2013, and Eulian is seen repeatedly punching Stafford.

Stafford was confronted about feeding stray cats in the defendants' West Adams neighborhood.

Eulian is accused of battery causing serious bodily injury and Fontaine is accused of accessory after the fact for lying about the incident.

Eulian was questioned Monday by his defense attorney. On Tuesday, the eighth day of the trial, it was the prosecution's turn.

"So we are clear: Your testimony to this jury is that when you review that video, you feel that you acted appropriately under the circumstances?" the prosecutor asked the defendant.

"Yes I do," said Eulian.

The jury has repeatedly seen video showing firefighter Eulian punching Stafford before dragging her out of her vehicle and punching her more.

"Do you feel that any way you behaved was wrong?" the prosecutor asked.

"No," said Eulian.

"Are you proud of your behavior?" asked the prosecutor.

"I am not," said Eulian.

Eulian told the jury he punched Stafford after she kicked his mother during the altercation. He claims he had to use force to stop Stafford from causing his mother further harm.

"No stopping her from what? From the slaps that she exchanged with your mother?" the prosecutor asked.

"She kicked me, she kicked my mother, she slapped me -- I mean, there was a series of things that led up to this event," said Eulian.

"Couldn't you have stopped her by simply walking away?" the prosecutor asked.

"And she could have driven away," said Eulian.

"Couldn't you have stopped her by simply walking away?" the prosecutor repeated.

The defense then objected, but was overruled by the judge.

"Yes," said Eulian.

Stafford has maintained that she never kicked Fontaine, that it was Eulian who pushed his mother out of the way to get close enough to punch her. The prosecutor asked Eulian if he actually saw Stafford kick his mother.

"I saw her lift her leg, I heard my mother grunt and fly past me," said Eulian.

"OK, that's not my question. My question is, Did you actually see her kick your mother?" said the prosecutor.

"I don't believe so," said Eulian.

Eulian is expected back on the witness stand on Wednesday for his third day of testimony.

Closing arguments could begin as early as Wednesday.

If convicted, Eulian faces seven years in prison.