11-08-2013, 10:23 AM
DEFENSE CASE - MACNEILL INVOKES ALIBI DEFENSE
The defense's case was short - few witnesses called.
MacNeill is now contending that he couldn't have killed his wife because he wasn't home.
Co-worker:
The defense called a fellow doctor (Jim Van Zant) who testified that he saw MacNeill leave the developmentl center sometime around 11 and noon on the day of Michele's death. He said that he didn't notice anything unusual.
Kindergarten teacher:
Ada MacNeill's kindergarten teacher (Linda Strong) testified that kindergarten ended around 11:30 a.m that day and that's about the time Martin MacNeill picked her up.
Ergonomics expert:
An ergonomics expert (Brett Besser) testified that though he couldn't say it would be impossible, he felt it would be very difficult for one person to lift Michele outta the tub when she was found (supporting MacNeill's story as to why he sent Ada to fetch neighbors for help after she found her mom in the tub).
The prosecution rebutted those claims with testimony claiming that the defense's expert used inapplicable work place safety standards to form his opinion.
MacNeill did not take the stand and the defense rested its case yesterday.
According to phone records, Martin MacNeill called 911 at 11:46 a.m. and 11:48 a.m. that day.
I think MacNeill had plenty of time and the alibi defense is weak. Utah County Attorney’s Office investigator Jeff Robinson previously testified that the drive from Martin’s MacNeill’s work to his Pleasant Grove home took about five minutes, going about 30 mph. He could have done something to Michele before picking up Ada, or picked Ada up first and drowned Michele during the approx. ten minutes before the first 911 call was made.
Closing arguments are scheduled for today, followed by jury instructions and verdict deliberations.
The defense's case was short - few witnesses called.
MacNeill is now contending that he couldn't have killed his wife because he wasn't home.
Co-worker:
The defense called a fellow doctor (Jim Van Zant) who testified that he saw MacNeill leave the developmentl center sometime around 11 and noon on the day of Michele's death. He said that he didn't notice anything unusual.
Kindergarten teacher:
Ada MacNeill's kindergarten teacher (Linda Strong) testified that kindergarten ended around 11:30 a.m that day and that's about the time Martin MacNeill picked her up.
Ergonomics expert:
An ergonomics expert (Brett Besser) testified that though he couldn't say it would be impossible, he felt it would be very difficult for one person to lift Michele outta the tub when she was found (supporting MacNeill's story as to why he sent Ada to fetch neighbors for help after she found her mom in the tub).
The prosecution rebutted those claims with testimony claiming that the defense's expert used inapplicable work place safety standards to form his opinion.
MacNeill did not take the stand and the defense rested its case yesterday.
According to phone records, Martin MacNeill called 911 at 11:46 a.m. and 11:48 a.m. that day.
I think MacNeill had plenty of time and the alibi defense is weak. Utah County Attorney’s Office investigator Jeff Robinson previously testified that the drive from Martin’s MacNeill’s work to his Pleasant Grove home took about five minutes, going about 30 mph. He could have done something to Michele before picking up Ada, or picked Ada up first and drowned Michele during the approx. ten minutes before the first 911 call was made.
Closing arguments are scheduled for today, followed by jury instructions and verdict deliberations.