Closing arguments are planned today in the trial of retailer Michael George, who’s charged in the murder of his first wife 17 years ago.
The defense rested yesterday afternoon after the testimony of George’s mother Janet, who asserts that her son was asleep on her sofa at the time his wife Barbara was killed in their comic store, about 30 minutes away.
George’s two daughters, who were 4 and 2 at the time of their mother’s slaying, testified on Wednesday.
George, owner of Comics World in Windber, Pa., and co-founder of Pittsburgh Comic-Con, is accused of staging the July 13, 1990, shooting death of his first wife to look like a robbery of their Clinton Township, Mich., comic-book store.
He has pleaded not guilty to charges of first- and second-degree murder, felony firearm, insurance fraud and obtaining money from an insurance agency under false pretenses. If convicted, he faces life in prison without parole.
Update: The Detroit News summarizes the closing arguments. The jury is expected to begin deliberations this afternoon.
March 14th, 2008 at 10:08 am
Y’know, in the world of comics message boards and other forms of instant punditry, where we seem to have an opinion about almost everything, even if our opinion has no basis in fact…I have been pleasantly surprised that there’s not been a big outcry of “he’s innocent” or “he’s guilty”. It seems like we’ve all had a “wait for the judicial system to run its course” unspoken attitude. Of course now watch someone send myriad links disproving this opinion…
March 14th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
There was one guy last time who tried to speak for everyone saying “We’re all behind you!” or something like that. But otherwise, yeah. Let the system do its thing and either prove him guilty or let him go if not.
April 2nd, 2008 at 5:31 pm
Last I heard, the defense was trying to get the verdict thrown out. Why bother with a trial, the time, the cost and then do what you want anyway? If the court overturns the verdict, any string of confidence in the judicial system that I may have had is out the window…
January 17th, 2011 at 9:26 pm
My sister, who is 11, likes Spider-Man comic books, as well as Spider-Girl, The Runaways, and Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys comic books. Mostly stuff like adventure and superhero stuff. And mysteries.