Billy Folberth was one of two character witnesses who closed out the defense case Wednesday. (Court TV)

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Jessy Joe Roten, the teenage skinhead accused of murdering a biracial child, got support from an unlikely corner Wednesday when a black co-worker took the stand to vouch for his character.

Austin Armstrong(Court TV)

Austin Armstrong, a supervisor at a pipe manufacturing plant, testified that Roten never displayed a hint of racial prejudice in the six months they worked side by side.

"He was a good worker, showed up on time, gave 100 percent," said Armstrong.

He said he had a good relationship with Roten and even introduced the teenager to his wife, who is white, and his three biracial children. Armstrong told jurors that Roten did not seem capable of violence.

Defense attorneys are hoping the testimony of Armstrong, their final witness, undermines the prosecution's claim that the fatal shooting of six-year-old Ashley Mance was racially motivated. If the state wins convictions on both second-degree murder and a hate crime, 19-year-old Roten could spend the rest of his life in prison. Closing arguments are scheduled for Thursday morning, the trial's sixth day.

In April 1998, a single bullet pierced the exterior wall of the Mance home, killing Ashley, injuring her twin sister, Aleesha, and nicking their four-year-old stepsister, Jailene Jones. Prosecutors maintain Roten targeted at the house because Aleesha's father, Terry Mance, lived their with his white girlfriend. Roten admits firing a semi-automatic rifle into the side of Mance family home, but claims the gun went off accidental as he tried to dismantle it. His attorneys are pushing for a manslaughter conviction.

Armstrong appeared nervous on the stand, speaking softly and choosing his words carefully. He acknowledged that testifying in the emotionally-charged case was difficult for him.

On cross examination, prosecutors suggested that Armstrong knew only one side of the defendant. Prosecutor Lydia Wardell confronted Armstrong with a pile of Roten's racist material, including a flier for a "hatefest," white supremacist posters, and a snapshot of him making the Nazi salute.

Again and again, Armstrong admitted he was not aware Roten subscribed to such views or possessed such materials.

"Maybe the reason he got along with you was so he could keep his job?" Wardell suggested. "Maybe that was the reason he was so nice?"

Armstrong acknowledged that was possible.

Also testifying was Billy Folberth, a close friend of Roten. Folberth, 20, claimed that Roten was a nonviolent person who never expressed malice toward minorities despite sporting racist tattoos and associating with white supremacists.

"(Being a skinhead) wasn't the main focus of his life," he said.

Folberth also tried to discredit what prosecutors have called a written confession by Roten. Police found a note reading "Someone had too [sic] for race and nation — Jessy Roten. To all my brothers, see you in Valhalla" in Roten's room. His girlfriend testified Monday that the note was not there before the shooting, but Folberth testified that he recalled some writing on the rear of Roten's bedroom door — where the note was found — prior to the shooting.

Folberth, however, had his own credibility problems on the stand. He admitted being a skinhead for about three years, but denied holding any racists beliefs. He acknowledged reading the Turner Diaries, a book that chronicles a race war, and attending a David Duke speech, but maintained that he did not subscribe to white supremacist beliefs.

Under cross examination by prosecutor Bill Loughery, Folberth, who was with Roten prior to the shooting, admitted lying to prosecutors investigating Ashley's death. He claimed he was trying to protect two friends who were on probation, but also placed blame with prosecutors who he said acted with hostility when questioning him.

Loughery pounced on that testimony, demanding "Would you expect me to be happy that you lied to me?...Didn't you bring this upon yourself?"

Folberth admitted he had.

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