Claude McCollum said he understood what he was doing when he chose to testify Monday in his own murder trial.

His defense attorney, David Lee Taylor, had just announced that McCollum's decision was against his legal advice.

Judge James Giddings reminded McCollum that he was not required to testify and pointed out he could face life in prison with no parole if convicted.

But still, in an unexpected turn of events in the trial, McCollum took the stand.

McCollum is charged with the rape and murder of Lansing Community College Professor Carolyn Kronenberg, who was found dead in her classroom about 15 minutes before her class was to start on Jan. 23, 2005.

During his testimony, McCollum told the jury he was misled by police during his videotaped and audiotaped interrogation. He said he simply relayed details about Kronenberg in the taped interrogation that police suggested to him during previous interviews which were not taped.

"They did trick me," McCollum said. "They stopped asking (questions) as 'would have, could have' and 'maybe.'

"I switched up right with them."

On the stand, McCollum was soft spoken and wide-eyed as he recounted interrogations that took place days after Kronenberg's death.

McCollum said he told police he had nothing to do with the murder.

McCollum was arraigned on rape and murder charges Jan. 26, 2005.

The jury should begin deliberations today in the trial which started Jan. 27, 2006, Giddings said.

While on the stand, Taylor asked McCollum about what happened during the days after Kronenberg's death.

"(Lansing police Det. Bruce Lankheet) came to me while I was in the computer lab," McCollum said.

He said he agreed to be questioned Jan. 24, the day after the murder, and went to LCC police Det. Sgt. Rodney Bahl's office at 8 a.m. the next day. He and Bahl spoke for at least an hour, McCollum said.

He said that during this interview, he was given details about Kronenberg's death.

"He explained that the deceased had been raped," McCollum said. "He explained that she was murdered and gave suggestions as to how it happened."

After the interview with Bahl, McCollum said he rode in the back seat of a patrol car to Lansing's North Precinct for further questioning.

There, another interview was conducted by Lankheet and Bahl before the taped interview, McCollum said.

The police told McCollum that there were no fingerprints or footprints found on the scene, he said.

"They said maybe (the perpetrator and Kronenberg) had a confrontation, had a falling out and maybe she got the wrong idea and he got the wrong idea," he said. "Maybe she approached him in defense, maybe he felt that he had to defend him.

"Maybe he was using an instrument to strike her with, maybe it was a phone. Maybe he had to do it quick. Maybe he would have done it in a way where he would not leave fingerprints or shoe prints. Maybe he took those precautions."

McCollum's brother said he agreed with his brother's decision to testify.

"It's a behind-the-scenes look," Laron McCollum said. "This is what I've been hearing since day one."

The prosecution will call a rebuttal witness today, and closing arguments are expected to be delivered, Giddings said.