Martin Puccio’s family took him to therapists and drug rehabilitation, tried compassion and tough love techniques, but found themselves unable to snap him out of a surly funk, according to Wednesday’s court testimony.

Puccio’s mother and two brothers testified before a jury that will meet today to decide whether the 21-year-old convicted killer should die in the electric chair or spend his life in prison.

Broward Circuit Judge Charles Greene will have final say on punishment.

The Puccio family described a younger Marty as a skinny, top-flight surfer who started smoking too much marijuana and spending too much time with an abusive friend during high school, causing him to withdraw and rebel against family rules.

Puccio testified during his trial that the cause of his troubled state of mind was his friend Bobby Kent, 20.

In July 1993, Kent was stabbed, slashed and beaten to death at a lake near Weston by a group of friends tired of his bullying, police said.

Puccio, of Hollywood, was convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder last Thursday. Four suspects await trial; two others pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and are testifying for the state.

Defense attorneys Kenneth Duckworth and Thomas Cazel on Wednesday tried to show the jury reasons why Puccio should live.

Among possible mitigating factors are a troubled childhood. Veronica Puccio, the convicted killer’s mother, said her son started going downhill in high school, from which he eventually dropped out.

“Our son just seemed to be deteriorating,” Veronica Puccio said. “We had no control over him.”

The family took Martin Puccio to drug rehabilitation and therapists, but nothing seemed to work, Veronica Puccio said.

Psychologist Dennis Day, who evaluated Martin Puccio in 1990 at the family’s request and again this past Sunday, said Martin Puccio was a follower, not a leader, who “manipulated others with his All-American boy charm.”

Christopher Puccio, Martin Puccio’s brother, was too choked up to testify when he took the stand, forcing a brief recess.

“We were best friends,” he said when the hearing resumed.

Martin Puccio’s mother, on the other hand, showed little emotion as she spoke of her troubled son. She told the jury she thinks her son’s life is worth saving, that he might be able to help other prisoners.

“He has a neat way of cheering people up,” Veronica Puccio said.