CAMBRIDGE - Informed of the murders of Joanne and Alyssa Presti in their West Woburn home, Michael Bizanowicz initially expressed dismay, his former girlfriend testified on Tuesday in Middlesex Superior Court.

"He asked me 'Who would do such a horrible thing?'" said Bobbi Jo Miller. "I said 'I have no idea.'"

Nine days later, police suspected it was Bizanowicz, and arrested him.

Miller's appearance highlighted the fifth day of testimony in the trial of Bizanowicz, who is accused of two counts of first degree murder and one count of aggravated rape of Joanne Presti on Jan. 5, 2004.

Miller described her relationship with Bizanowicz, who is the father of one of her children and briefly lived with her in the Totman Drive neighborhood, and gave testimony about the days before and after the alleged murders.

Also testifying on Tuesday was Miller's mother, Linda St. Pierre, whose then-boyfriend employed Bizanowicz as an apprentice electrician to help him pay child support to Miller.

The prosecution also finished its questioning of Kerry Donovan, a chemist with the State Police Crime Lab who searched Alyssa Presti's bedroom for evidence, and began its examination of Det. Lt. James Connolly, commanding officer of the State Police detective unit in the Middlesex region.

Connolly was expected to resume his testimony when court re-convened this morning.

Judge Geraldine Hines also announced on Tuesday that a juror was "excused for personal reasons" that had "nothing to do with the case." The panel now consists of 15 members, including three alternates.

Bobbi Jo Miller

Under questioning from Asst. District Attorney Adrienne Lynch, Miller said she met Bizanowicz while she was working at a convenience store around 1995 and their friendship eventually became a relationship that produced their daughter, who was born in May 2002.

Two months after their child was born, Miller moved to 21B Totman Drive, and at some point Bizanowicz - a level 3 sex offender - moved in and lived with Miller for about 10 months.

Miller testified she was involved in Bizanowicz's finances, to the point where she collected his bills and wrote out the checks, and registered his truck with her name and address. She was also paid cash directly by Bizanowicz's boss for time Bizanowicz worked.

Living directly across the street from Miller at the time were the Prestis - Joanne, Alyssa and her two sons, one of whom eventually went to live with his father in another community. Joanne had recently been divorced from her husband, who is the father of her younger son.

In the spring of 2003, Miller and Joanne Presti became involved in a friendship that had them and their families together frequently, "just about daily," Miller said.

"It was great," said Miller of her relationship with Joanne.

Bizanowicz, who eventually moved to his own apartment in Lowell, was also cordial to Joanne Presti, Miller said.

"They saw each other a few times. They were fine," said Miller. "They respected each other. At least they tolerated each other."

In late October, the Prestis moved to 13A Totman Drive, about three houses down and on the opposite side of the street from their old apartment. Shortly after the move, Joanne Presti asked Miller if Bizanowicz could install a television cable in her new apartment. The families met for dinner that night, but Bizanowicz brought the wrong size cable and couldn't do the job, prompting an argument between him and Miller.

Miller left the Prestis' apartment shortly thereafter and Bizanowicz followed her. That night was the only time she was aware Bizanowicz was in Presti's apartment, Miller testified. Bizanowicz was last in Miller's apartment on Christmas Day in 2003, she noted.

On Saturday, Jan. 3, 2004 - two days before the murders - Joanne and Miller's sister arranged to go out to a nightclub in Lynn, and Miller agreed to baby-sit all the children in her home. Alyssa slept over Miller's house that night and stayed into the next morning, leaving between 10-11 a.m., Miller testified.

That day, Jan. 4, Bizanowicz was supposed to visit his daughter at Miller's apartment, but got held up looking at apartments (Bizanowicz was apparently seeking to move from Lowell), and he didn't call Miller back until later that day.

Miller said Bizanowicz "didn't sound like himself," and fearing he was under the influence of some sort of intoxicant, she refused to allow him to visit their daughter.

At about 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 4, Joanne Presti went to Miller's house, and Miller observed she "looked upset."

"She said she had a headache and was tired from the night before," said Miller. "It looked like she had been crying."

Presti left after about 15 minutes, after making arrangements with Miller to go shopping the following day to return some Christmas gifts.

Miller said she then went on her computer, which she used to chat with a group that may have included Presti, then put her children to bed and talked to her father on the telephone for about two hours.

Before going to sleep, Miller made a call to Bizanowicz at 11:33 p.m. and spoke to him for about two minutes, according to telephone records.

Miller awoke the next day at about 8 a.m., and at some point called Presti's home to follow up on the shopping arrangements. She said she left "a few messages," none of which were returned.

Driving past the Prestis' home, she noticed the blinds were drawn, an unusual circumstance, she testified, since Joanne Presti smoked cigarettes and would often open the windows to let fresh air into her apartment.

She also received a call from Bizanowicz's boss informing her Bizanowicz did not show up for work on Jan. 5, a Monday morning. Miller called Bizanowicz's apartment but did not reach him, leaving messages instead.

Miller said Bizanowicz eventually got back to her in either the mid or late morning, telling her he didn't go to work that day because he was "tired and hungover" from drinking "a couple of beers" the night before.

She said she threatened to take back Bizanowicz's truck if he continued to miss work, something that she acknowledged had happened "a few times" in the past.

On Jan. 6 and Jan. 7, Miller again tried to contact Joanne Presti, without successful results. The blinds, she noted, were still drawn and her minivan had apparently not been moved from its spot in the driveway, she testified.

She said she tried to knock on the door to Joanne's apartment, but no one answered.

"She had told me (on Jan. 4) she wasn't feeling well," said Miller. "I didn't know if she was sick or avoiding me."

During the afternoon of Jan. 7, Miller called Joanne Presti's parents - Peter and Annette - in their Billerica home and informed them of her observations.

"I just said I was concerned," said Miller. "I hadn't heard from her in a few days, which was unlike her."

Peter and Annette Presti discovered the bodies at about 4 p.m. on Jan. 7. Later, Miller recalled a child in the neighborhood coming up to her and informing her Joanne and Alyssa were dead.

"The child was screaming hysterically," said Miller. "I figured out what she was saying, and then I ran to Joanne's house."

By that time, police had arrived and she spoke to a couple of detectives at the scene. She described herself as "frightened" and "very emotional."

Miller said she then went to Winchester Hospital to check on the condition of Presti's youngest child, who after being left in his crib for more than two days was being treated for dehydration.

"He looked very tired, weak, drawn," said Miller.

Distraught over the death of her friend and her friend's daughter, Miller said she then went to her mother's house in Lynn. St. Pierre said she called Bizanowicz to make him aware of the situation.

"He said 'Oh my God. What happened?'" said St. Pierre. "I told him, and then he said 'I'm on my way.'"

Bizanowicz arrived to console Miller, but she said he appeared to be "quiet."

"He was just sitting there, watching me," said Miller. "He looked a little stressed out."

Miller testified Bizanowicz had what appeared to be "hives" on his forehead, which he explained were the result of stress.

"He just said he had a lot on his mind," Miller said. "I didn't understand what."

St. Pierre also testified she observed cuts and abrasions on Bizanowicz's knuckles, which the prosecution alleges are evidence of a struggle with Alyssa Presti before she was killed.

Bizanowicz was arrested on Jan. 16, 2004, after police tracked DNA evidence found at the scene.

Cross-examination

In response to a question from defense attorney Stanley Norkunas, Miller said Bizanowicz and Joanne Presti were upstairs together for about 20 minutes during the night he agreed to come to the Prestis' house to install cable.

Miller reiterated she was "aggravated" when she learned Bizanowicz had brought the wrong size cable and then left the Prestis' apartment.

"I believe (Bizanowicz) came out behind me shortly thereafter," said Miller.

"He told you he was going to come back to run the cable," said Norkunas. "Did he ever go back?"

"Not to my knowledge," replied Miller.

Norkunas also asked Miller to describe Bizanowicz's expression while they were watching televised news coverage of the West Woburn murders on Jan. 7, asking her if his client exhibited "deep concern."

"He just sat there and stared at me," said Miller.

Norkunas also asked Miller if she was aware of Joanne Presti's relationship with her landlord, who the defense contends was not thoroughly examined as a suspect in the murders.

"Did you know the landlord?" asked Norkunas.

"I knew who he was," said Miller.

"How often did (Joanne Presti) see him?" asked Norkunas.

"Very often," replied Miller.