MARTINEZ, Calif. — Private e-mails that document the fractured relationship between Susan Polk's sons after she stabbed their father to death were read aloud to jurors Tuesday at Polk's murder trial by her son, Eli, who has testified for a seventh day in his mother's defense.

"I hope you do join the team and then I can see you soon," Eli, 20, read in court from a Jan. 25, 2004, e-mail to his brother Gabriel Polk, 19, referring to their differences about their mother's culpability. "Don't let anybody but you run your life."

Eli cried as he read a passage in which he told his younger brother, "I'm sorry for not being there for you when this all happened."

Gabriel was 15 when he discovered his father Felix Polk's body on the floor of a cottage in his parent's $1.85 million Orinda., Calif., home.

Susan Polk, 48, admits she stabbed her 70-year-old psychologist husband in October 2002, but says it was self-defense, not murder.

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She faces a maximum of 25 years to life if convicted.

In his e-mail, Eli counseled his brother to steer clear of "shrinks" because "they are trained in the art of control ... like Dad."

He also asked that Gabriel keep his e-mail private from Dan and Marjorie Briner, the couple who took Gabriel in after his father was killed and his mother was arrested.

Eli characterized the Briners as "intrusive," "ill-intentioned" detractors of his mother. He accused them of "trying to loot our estate."

Gabriel previously testified that his brother is under his mother's control. He defended the Briners and told his mother he has flourished under their care.

Gabriel's growing animosity toward his older brother was apparent in his 2004 e-mails, which Eli read into the record.

"I'm disappointed in you. Get your s--- together," Gabriel wrote. "You're siding with a person who murdered our dad."

"Eli, I love you, but I'm really running out of patience. Man the f--- up and handle your s---. Love, Gabe," he concluded.

Polk asked Eli to read the e-mail to show her estranged son's alleged mimicking of his father's abusive language.

"'Handle your s---.' Is that something Dad said?" Polk asked.

"Yes," Eli nodded.

Eli and his mother claim that Felix Polk selected Eli as the family "scapegoat," and then used his standing as a professional in the community to conspire with judges and attorneys to ensure Eli received harsh treatment — expulsions and stints in juvenile hall — for infractions they deemed minor, including battery, drug possession and harassment.