Samantha Kriegel, a member of the same United Jewish Congregation on Robinson Road as Kissel and her murdered husband Robert, said the accused was a devoted mother whose life revolved around her three children.

Kissel, 40, is on trial for drugging and murdering her husband in 2003.

Kriegel called her friend creative, intelligent and an accomplished photographer, who was dedicated to volunteering at the children's school and took ``beautiful photos of her kids.''

As Kriegel left the courtroom, she mouthed some words of comfort and gave a supportive wave to her friend. For the first time, Kissel broke down in tears.

Kriegel had known the accused for more than a year when Merrill Lynch banker Robert Kissel's decomposing body was found wrapped in plastic film and rolled in a rug in the family storeroom at their luxury Parkview home.

The two women were involved in organizing a black-tie fundraising gala for the United Jewish Congregation scheduled for December 2003. Kriegel praised the accused 's enthusiasm.

On Saturday, November 1, 2003, a day before the alleged murder, the accused was hired to take pictures of Kriegel's children in the Parkview garden area. Kriegel said ``she was talking to the kids, keeping them in good humor as the morning went on,'' and showed great patience. The kids liked her, she added.

The prosecution alleges that the following day, Kissel served her husband a cocktail of drugs in a pink milkshake which left him unconscious as she bludgeoned him to death with a heavy metal figurine.

The following Thursday, Kriegel said she received a call from Kissel, who was very upset and said she could not continue her work on the gala because ``she was dealing with issues about Rob's health.''

At mid-morning, Kriegel went to collect the invitations for the gala, which were still at the Kissel residence. When the accused answered the door, she was wearing dark glasses and ``looked terrible,'' said Kriegel, who noticed relocation boxes, which the prosecution alleges were used to pack away incriminating evidence.

Kriegel asked if she was planning to return to the United States because of her husband's health. Kissel cried in response. Realizing there was a crisis, Kriegel said she did not inquire any further.

But even then, Kissel was trying to think about the gala and worrying that the RSVPs were still addressed to the Kissel residence, said Kriegel.

Under cross-examination by senior counsel Gary Plowman, Kriegel confirmed Kissel's work at the children's Hong Kong International School was a very important part of her life.

``Did she ever mention to you that her husband had forbidden her to be further involved at HKIS?'' asked Plowman. ``No'' replied Kriegel.

A former neighbor of the Kissels, Kazuko Ouchi, also completed her testimony Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Ouchi's husband, Andrew Tanzer, testified that he had visited the victim on the day he died and shared the spiked milkshake with him before returning home. Ouchi said her husband could barely recall the events that followed his consumption of the milkshake.

Another former neighbor told the jury he had seen the victim playing with his son at the Parkview clubhouse between 4.30pm and 5pm Sunday, November 2, at least half an hour after Robert Kissel drank his milkshake.

When questioned by Plowman, David Friedland said they chatted and when he left, ``Rob was in a chair with his feet up on the phone,'' he said. The banker then signaled ``OK'' as a parting gesture, said Friedland.

Also Wednesday, Maximina Macaraeg, a domestic helper for the Kissels, confirmed she was told not to tidy up the main bedroom in the days following Kissell's death.

She also said she had noticed an injury to Nancy Kissel's right hand between the thumb and forefinger and that the accused had said she had hurt herself while using the oven.

The day after the alleged murder, Kissel told her she had had an argument with the victim and that he had gone to stay at a hotel, said Macaraeg.

Prosecutor Peter Chapman asked Macaraeg to look at photos taken from the Parkview security cameras at 2am on Monday, November 3.

Chapman then asked whose image was on the photos. Macaraeg replied ``that's Mrs Kissel.'' The prosecution has said the photos were taken in the car park but has not offered a theory about what she was doing.

Macaraeg will continue to give evidence before Justice Michael Lunn today.