Another West High employee, Marco Herrera, 54, a former school counselor, is in prison after admitting that he had illegal sexual activity with the girl in 2007.

The Herrera situation came to light when police chanced upon the pair engaging in inappropriate sexual conduct in a public place. Earlier testimony showed the girl believed she loved Herrera and wanted to marry him.

"Did Mr. Fanjul replace Mr. Herrera in your affections?" Brown asked.

"I don't know how to answer that question," the girl said.

Later, Fanjul showed emotion for the first time in the trial when he repeatedly wiped tears from his face as another former student grew emotional on the witness stand. She described Fanjul as a wonderful educator who cared deeply about his students' personal well-being, as well as their academics.

"This is hard," she said, putting both hands over her eyes and sobbing.

This student said Fanjul spoke to her and another teenager about befriending the girl in this case because he explained that particular girl had gone through hard times: her mother died of cancer when she was 7; she witnessed her father badly burned in an accident at age 11; and many people at the school were shunning the girl because of the Herrera situation.

From then on, the student testified she began greeting the girl in question and eating lunch with her.

As for Fanjul, the student on the stand Wednesday indicated he was positive, encouraging and playfully affectionate with all students..

"Did he tell you he loved you?" asked defense attorney Ann Marie Taliaferro.

"Yes," the girl said.

"Does he give you hugs?" Taliaferro asked.

"Yes," the girl said.

"Did he call you 'cutie'?" Taliaferro asked.

"Yes," the girl said, smiling. "He did that with everyone."

The trial is set to run through Friday.

E-MAIL: lindat@desnews.com