The Verdict Is In

Part 2

Mary testified all day long yesterday. When the defence questioned her would bow her head like someone ashamed. There were tears I think, (wiping eyes and blowing nose). Only once her voice broke and that was when the prosecutor was questioning. She claimed Matthew had abused her mentally, physically and sexually. Whether that is true or not, who knows. I know those first 10 years of married are the ones that make or break the marriage. She said he criticized her dress, the way she walked, etc. And she testified that the people at church at Selmar had had the elders talk to her about these things. Well, there are ways a preacher's wife should dress and walk!! So she may have been dressing inappropriately and walking--like a street walker?? She did admit to the prosecutor that she would not tell the truth if it meant she could make herself or family look better. Yet the prosecutor had asked her if she would lie if she had to. SHE never said LIE, but she said not tell the truth. What is the difference? The prosecutor asked if she had been coached in the way she should act on the stand. She said no.

After the prosecutor closed his questioning, he went to the judge and the lawyers had a conference. I don't remember if they took a recess or not. But they recalled a friend (young woman) of Matthew and Mary's. She said Mary did know how to shoot a gun. She said she and her husband and Matthew and Mary had gone on a vacation together. She had mentioned to Mary that she was uncomfortable having a gun in the house. Mary told her to get gun instructions. That Matthew had taken her to a shooting range and taught her how to shoot a gun, in case she ever needed to. So this woman said she believed Mary did know how to shoot a gun.

Then they called another TBI computer expert. Mary had testified that Matthew would be up all hours watching porn on the computer. The TBI man said they had taken off all the content of the computer. He said in Oct. 2005 there had been two instances of someone going to a porn website. But he said that was all that those sites had been visited. He said they could not tell who had gone there, that most of the time the computer had been signed on by Matthew. But that is not unusual, I don't think. If I am using my husband's computer I usually sign on with his name as he has more sites saved on his than I have. Nowadays it is the opposite on my computer. I have more than he does.

I thought the prosecutor did a good job with the closing remarks. He explained the different types of guilt: murder, involuntary manslaughter, etc. Personally I think she will serve some time, but not the 60 years that the murder conviction carries. I'd say she may get 20 years, out in six.

Oh yes, when the daughter testified she said she never heard her daddy speak unkindly to her mother, or seen him hit her in any way. She also said when she saw her daddy on the floor, he was on his stomach, the bedside table was not turned over and the phone was still on the table. When he was found, he was on his back, the table was turned over, and the phone was unplugged and out of his reach. She also said Mary closed the door, so they could not see into the bedroom. Makes you wonder what is really true.