Jessica Royall took the stand Thursday, the third day of her homicide trial in the death of her boyfriend.

Against the advice of her lawyer, William Difenderfer, Royall opened herself to cross-examination from prosecutor Laura Pitchford by testifying.

Royall, 29, of Cranberry Township, explained how she met boyfriend Ryan Minett, 27, through a dating platform known as Plenty of Fish.

Royall's testimony followed the appearance of Minett's ex-girlfriend, Sonia Hodge, 29, who claimed Minett raped and abused her during their relationship about 10 years ago.

Royall testified that she told Minett, “You're not the person I thought you were” after she discovered that he emptied her bank account and stole her prescription of Vicodin she had for oral surgery.

“I knew things were about to get ugly,” she told the jury.

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