text: A 13-year-old boy who was allegedly locked in a basement for 11 days has testified against his father and stepmother in court, saying his home was a 'very terrible' place where he was often beaten with a plastic pipe, forced to rise before dawn for workouts and isolated from other children. He revealed his treatment was so horrific, he attempted suicide in a bid to escape his parents' torture. Taking the stand against Charlie Bothuell IV and Monique Dillard-Bothuell on Tuesday, Charlie Bothuell, who was 12 when he was found in the basement, described the horrors of his home life. 'It was a very terrible place to be,' he told the court of his family's Detroit townhouse. 'I was expected to do everything perfectly. I was never given any leeway, to make a mistake and learn from it.' Charlie, who wore glasses, a white shirt, a tie and black pants for his hour-long testimony, was speaking publicly for the first time since he was found in his family's cluttered and dirty basement. Scroll down for video . Testimony: Charlie Bothuell (pictured), now 13, was found in the basement of his family's Detroit townhouse last June following an 11-day search. On Tuesday, he testified in court against his father and stepmother . Basement: Taking the stand against Charlie Bothuell IV and Monique Dillard-Bothuell on Tuesday, Charlie, who was 12 when he was found in the tiny, dirty basement (pictured), described the horrors of his home life . 'Weapon': He said his home was a 'very terrible' place where he was beaten with this plastic pipe (pictured being presented as evidence in court), forced to rise before dawn for workouts and isolated from other kids . Police officers who dramatically rescued the youngster on the eleventh day of a wide-scale search for him also found a blanket, cereal box, drinks bottles and a bowl of chicken bones in the tiny room. The hearing is meant to determine if there is enough evidence to send Bothuell IV and his partner to trial on charges of torture and child abuse. A 36th District Court judge will make the decision. During Tuesday's testimony, Charlie did not look at the prosecutor as he described how he was educated at home from 2012. His daily routine involved waking up at 5am for a protein shake. He was then forced to endure vigorous workouts that lasted up to two hours, followed by a shower, math and science lessons with old books, chores and another workout, he told the court. 'What would happen if you didn't do this routine?' asked the prosecutor. Charlie replied: 'I would get in trouble, a whipping.' The youngster said he tried to run away aged 11, but police found him. After he was returned home, 'I was told to basically lay across the dining room table and was spanked on the butt with a wooden stick and then a plastic PVC pipe,' Charlie told the court. Accused: 'It was a very terrible place to be,' Charlie said. 'I was expected to do everything perfectly. I was never given any leeway, to make a mistake and learn from it.' Above, Charlie's father in court of Tuesday . Defendants: The hearing is meant to determine if there is enough evidence to send Bothuell IV (left) and his partner (right) to trial for alleged torture and child abuse. A 36th District Court judge will make the decision . Mug shots: Bothuell IV (left) and Dillard-Bothuell (right) are seen in their mug shots following their arrests . Charlie's face was not pictured by the press as he gave his testimony; only his hands were shown (above) He recalled other 'whoopings' with sticks and pipes, which would cause the skin on his buttocks to bleed and 'split open'. 'Why did you lay over the dining room table,' the prosecutor asked him. According to Fox 2, Charlie replied: 'Because I was told to. (I) laid over the dining room table and I would be basically smacked on the butt.' The prosecutor then inquired: 'With what?' 'A wooden stick,' Charlie said. 'Then a plastic PVC pipe.' He added that his stepmother would sometimes punch him - and once even choked him. He was left feeling depressed and upset. The expectations about life at home were "absolutely ridiculous', said Charlie, detailing how was made to stand in the corner with his arms held above his head if he did not complete assignments. 'They decided when they wanted me to stop. It was so painful,' he said. He added that he even attempted suicide in a bid to escape the abusive conditions at his home, WXYZ reported. Home: A neighbor near the Bothuells' home showed Daily Mail Online the bathroom that Charlie likely used . Tunnel: The bathroom was accessible via this tunnel (right), according to the neighbor, The tunnel's outside door (left) is usually locked and only accessible to maintenance men, but crucially, it was left open during the time Charlie was missing so that residents could get rid of a build-up of trash in a dumpster left outside . Discovery: Police officers who dramatically rescued the youngster from the house (pictured) on the eleventh day of a wide-scale search also found a blanket, cereal box and a bowl of chicken bones in the basement . Earlier in the hearing, detective Sgt. Ken Ducker testified about finding Charlie in the roughly 600-square-foot space when he went downstairs looking for evidence that might help the search. 'I was not expecting to find him,' Ducker said. A doctor said the boy was thin with several bruises. Defense attorneys claim Charlie is a liar who left and returned to the house on his own. Bothuell IV insists he didn't know his son was in the basement, which has no door at the top of the stairs. Attorney Shawn Smith asked Ducker if he believed the boy - who is now living with his mother - was in the basement for all 11 days, but a prosecutor objected. The question went unanswered. Judge Shannon Holmes ended the hearing before Charlie was asked about what happened last June. The youngster, who had lived with his father for two years, will return to court on May 6. Reaction: Bothuell IV, who insists he didn't know his son was in the basement, was giving a live TV interview when he was told his son had been found by police. He appeared to be shocked by the news (pictured) 'Abusive'L Dillard-Bothuell, who allegedly once choked her stepson, is seen in court at an earlier hearing .
target: Charlie Bothuell, now 13, was discovered in Detroit basement last June .
  Blanket, cereal box and a bowl of chicken bones were in room with him .
  On Tuesday, Charlie testified in court against his father and stepmother .
  Said home was 'very terrible place to be' where he was regularly beaten .
  Claimed he was tormented with workouts and isolated from other kids .
  He attempted suicide in bid to escape abusive conditions, he told court .
  It is first time Charlie has spoken publicly since he was found by police .
  Hearing is meant to determine if there is enough evidence to send the youngster's father and stepmother to trial for 'torture and child abuse'