BOULDER, Colo. -- The mother of an 8-week-old baby who died last year took the stand Monday in the father's murder trial, testifying that although she may not have helped the infant much, it was her husband who abused him.

Tanner Dowler died last October of brain injuries. The baby had 14 broken bones and burns on both feet, according to medical reports. He had been shaken so hard that parts of his eyeballs had separated.

His father, Joseph Dowler, is on trial now in Boulder County for first-degree murder and child abuse. His defense team is trying to shift some of the blame on Audra Dowler.

In a very low-key and unemotional manner, Audra Dowler testified Monday that she wasn't happy when she learned she was pregnant and was ready to abort the baby because she was not ready to be a mother. Although the 18-year-old woman loved her son, she said she did very little to care for him and that it was her husband who acted as both Tanner's mother and father.

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Testimony Describes Joseph Dowler As Jekyll And Hyde

Audra Dowler said she never saw Joseph hit or abuse Tanner but that she saw marks on the baby and noticed that he had burned feet.

The night before the baby was rushed to the hospital, she said Joseph woke her up and he was crying.

"He said, 'I think I broke our son,'" Audra Dowler said.
"Are those the exact words he used?" the prosecutor asked.
"Yes, ma'am." Dowler said.
"And how did that strike you at that time? It's kind of an unusual phrase, isn't it?" the prosecutor said.
"Yes," Dowler said.
"And how did you react to that?," the prosecutor asked.
"And I was kinda like, 'OK ...How?' And he wouldn't tell me. Then I asked him again and he still wouldn't tell me," Dowler said.

Audra Dowler, whose shorter, darker hair made her apper significantly different from when she last appeared in court, answered most questions with a "yes" or "no" and was calm throughout the proceeding, 7NEWS reported. She admitted that both she and her husband were often frustrated when Tanner had his crying spells but she told the court that she would never hurt the baby.

She is serving 10 years in prison for negligence in connection with Tanner's death.

Joseph Dowler faces life in prison if convicted of first-degree murder.