Sorry for not continuing my post from Thursday. I have only one computer in our satellite truck. The connection runs slow so I have trouble posting to my blog. Please be patient. I'll write as I can.
Today, was a long, long day of the same testimony over and over and over again. Alabama Bureau of Investigation agent Steve Stabler was on the stand for 6 1/2 hours. He is the person who interviewed Mary the night she was arrested. He taped the interview, which was played in court today. Mary admitted on tape that she shot Matthew. She says the couple was having domestic conflicts that finally reached a "boiling point." In her taped statement, Mary goes on to say that Matthew had threatened her. She had threatened him over the course of their marriage. She snapped. She also defends Matthew by saying she loved him dearly but he "nailed her in the ground." Never once in the nearly hour long interview did she ever ask police if Matthew was ok. Finally at the end, Stabler asked if she wanted to know about him. She began sobbing but didn't say anything. He told her Matthew was dead. She asked if he was at the funeral home.
Matthew's family was in court today. His father, grandmother, uncle, aunt, brother and sister-in-law. None of Mary's family was in court. Only the person she lives with, Kathy Tompson. Mary cried, really cried, for the first time since this ordeal began. She looks tired and stressed out. Her face is hard, her eyes filled with worry. If you look at her now compared to just a few short years ago, it seems like a completely different person. It's hard to not feel sorry for her. She felt their was no way out and for some reason did not want to leave him. Only Mary knows exactly what happened that morning.
Matthew and Mary's oldest daughter, Patricia, is expected to testify sometime tomorrow. She is the only witness to the crime. While she didn't see anything, she is old enough to know what happened to her daddy. That is the saddest part to this entire wasteful tragedy. The children are without a father and without a mother. In court Thursday, one of the attorney's mentioned that Patricia "hates her mother." The children have had very little contact with her since Matthew's death. They are in good hands with Dan and Diane Winkler. They are the only one's who might be able to help them through this. Mary knows that and told police she wanted them to take the children.
The defense argues Mary accidentally shot Matthew. Prosecutors say that's impossible. The defense is hinging there case on abuse, emotional and physical. Prosecutors don't buy it. They say she killed Matthew because she was caught in a check-kiting scam and didn't want Matthew to find out.
So many of you have made kind comments about my blogging of the trial. Thank you so much! This is a difficult situation. This is the first time I've ever covered a trial that I knew the person who is accused in the case. I try to be fair to both sides.
We will be leaving Saturday afternoon to head back home and wash clothes and rest. Lord willing, we will return on Sunday and start it all over for another week.
Have a safe weekend and I will post more tomorrow!
3 comments:
Thank you Elizabeth for your wonderful blog. You are really showing us the human side of this situation. Media hype has been terrible and you are so down to earth.
Blessings, Elizabeth. I feel your anguish in your words. This must be difficult, but your professionalism and spirit is shining through.
Thank you Elizabeth for doing your job so professionally and christian-like without judgement. So many reporters jump to conclusion and it is so good to know that you are just giving us the facts presented. God is in charge, and His will will be done.
Blessings,
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