After calling a handful of witnesses, the defense has rested its case in the Michele Williams murder trial. The 45-year-old mother of four did not testify. Closing arguments and jury deliberation will begin Monday morning.
Michele is accused of the 2011 fatal shooting of her husband, Greg. She is also charged with tampering with evidence for cleaning the crime scene.
Her defense is that Greg committed suicide.
“Greg and Michele tended to be living beyond their means,” CPA Cyndy Kimberling said.
Greg Williams’ first wife, Kathy Williams, testified that Greg was confident and assertive. The defense focused on several incidents during their 10-year marriage when Greg was violent.
“He punched me a couple of times in my arm when he was mad,” Kathy said.
Attorney Clay Graham also elicited testimony about Greg’s steroid use. Kathy said she knew he used them for about six months before he “weaned himself off of them.”
The defense honed in on Greg’s continued use of steroids during his subsequent marriage to Michele. John Briggs, a death investigator with the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office, testified that he found three different kinds of anabolic steroids at the Williams’ home.
To counter the prosecution’s theory that Michele killed Greg for his money, the defense called a pair of financial witnesses. Cyndy Kimberling, a certified public accountant, testified that although Michele wrote the majority of the checks, most of the couple’s money was withdrawn through anonymous ATM transactions and wire transfers.
“They tended to be living beyond their means,” she said.
But, Kimberling said, she could not determine who was in charge of the finances. In an interview with Keller police after Greg’s death, Michele said she was the business manager of her husband’s computer company.
Donald Miller, president of VIP mortgage in Colleyville, testified about the couple’s mortgage application. He was unaware of the accusation that a phony account purporting to have $144,000 was used to secure the loan.
“That would dramatically change the picture,” Miller said.
If convicted of murder, Michele Williams faces up to life in prison.
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New to the story? Catch up on the Michele Williams case here:
October 31, 2013: The making of the Keller black widow: Did Michele Williams get away with murder?
January 30, 2014: Keller black widow Michele Williams lands back in Tarrant County jail
February 10, 2014: Michele Williams rejects plea deal and opts for murder trial in husband's death
March 6, 2014: Keller black widow Michele Williams worked at strip club while out on bond
May 2, 2014: Peter Van Sant dishes on what made Michele Williams case so intriguing to 48 Hours
May 15, 2014: Accused murderess Michele Williams gets bond revoked amid fears she'd skip town
May 28, 2014: Couple offers to help post bond for accused murderer Michele Williams
Michele Williams did not testify in her murder trial.
