Preacher's Wife on Stand for Murder

[Rhino]

Preacher's Wife on Stand for Murder: Husband Forced Me to Have Sex, Refused Divorce

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

SELMER, Tenn. — A preacher's wife accused of murdering her husband testified Wednesday that she doesn't remember picking up the shotgun or pointing it at her husband, but she said she did not pull the trigger. She heard a "boom" as the shotgun fired, she said.

"Something went off," Mary Winkler said, crying on the witness stand.

Prosecutor Walt Freeland asked her if she understood what a trigger did, or which end of a shotgun was dangerous.

"You know that pulling a trigger is what makes it go boom?" Freeland asked.

"Yes, sir," Winkler replied.

She also said under cross-examination that her husband, Matthew, had done "nothing" for which he deserved to die.

Mary Winkler said she just wanted to talk to him when she went into their bedroom at the church parsonage, but she was terrified. He was physically and sexually abusive, she said.

That day, she just wanted to stop him from being so mean, she said.

After the gun fired, she ran from the house, she said. "I thought Matthew would be mad at me, and I didn't know what he would do to me."

Later, she returned to their bedroom and found him on his back, dead. A forensic pathologist testified that Matthew Winkler had been shot in the back.

Mary Winkler said that despite the abuse, she still loved her husband. She said she was ashamed about the abuse and didn't tell anyone.....http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,266667,00.html

[CountryGent]

I will fault no woman who shoots a SOB who is abusing her in any way......in fact....I will teach her to shoot a gun.:D:D

[Rhino]

There is evidence that he didn't abuse her, and from some reports, even she said he was not abusing her at the time. If he was abusing her, she should have left and reported it instead of killing him. If he was abusing her and she could not escape, then it could be a different story. But according to the prosecution, that wasn't the case. We may never know for sure.

[CountryGent]

I tend to be very skeptical of what is said by lawyers in the Courtroom. Remember these are the same asshats (along with Liberal Judges) who have managed to decimate our Judicial system to the point where it is only fodder for the Jerry Springer Show and Oprah.....:flame:

[Suzie]

It would seem the "porn" accusations would be easy to prove ... if true. He had to be getting it somewhere.


She also said under cross-examination that her husband, Matthew, had done "nothing" for which he deserved to die.

[CountryGent]

Abuse covers more forms than just that of being "physical". Everyone has a "breaking point" IMO. Whatever they guy did to her obviously caused her to reach that point. Coudda,woudda,and shouldda is not something she (the wife) dedicated a lot of thought towards.

I have a soft spot when it comes to women being abused in any manner.....saw too much of it in my career. I surely enjoyed the "cuff and stuff" part when it came to the violators tho.:D

[dajoga]

Jury found her guilty of voluntary manslaughter today.

Manslaughter carries a sentence between 3 and 16 years in prison.


source (http://www.wmctv.com/ )

BTW, check out the Ford clan's problems at the bottom of the page!

I hope she gets the max w/o parole!

[Lazarus]

There is evidence that he didn't abuse her, and from some reports, even she said he was not abusing her at the time. If he was abusing her, she should have left and reported it instead of killing him. If he was abusing her and she could not escape, then it could be a different story. But according to the prosecution, that wasn't the case. We may never know for sure.I agree... Sounds like from her own testimony that she was not in a helpless situation - Not in a situation where she couldnt leave the house... Even if she had been abused before, there are legal outlets for her to find protection...

If the situation was such that he was physically attacking her on the spot and her life was threatened, I would fully support her right to use deadly force to defend herself... If they lived in a remote area where there is no law, and she felt helpless, I could support her use of force... If he had been abusive in the past, I would even turn a blind eye if some "good ole boys" had a very pointed talk with him - involving baseball bats...

As Rhino says, we'll probably never know the whole truth... The problem with these "News Reports" is that we were not in the courtroom - We never heard the full testimony... And nowdays the Media is no longer a reliable source of facts - They are interested only in selling shock and morbid entertainment...

[Rhino]

Jury found her guilty of voluntary manslaughter today.

Manslaughter carries a sentence between 3 and 16 years in prison.

source (http://www.wmctv.com/ )

BTW, check out the Ford clan's problems at the bottom of the page!

I hope she gets the max w/o parole!Hopes dashed!. She'll likely only serve 60 days. Now who says crime don't pay?

Mary Winkler Sentenced to 3 Years for Killing Husband, May End Up Serving Only 60 Days
Friday, June 08, 2007
SELMER, Tenn. — A woman who killed her preacher husband with a shotgun blast to the back as he lay in bed was sentenced Friday to three years in prison, but she may end up serving only 60 days in a mental hospital.

Mary Winkler must serve 210 days, or about seven months, of her sentence before she can be released on probation, but she gets credit for the five months she has already spent in jail, Judge Weber McCraw said.

That leaves only two months....http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,279390,00.html

[DeclinetoState]

The Heiress gets 45 days (though that will probably be chopped down considerably for "good behavior," even after all the recent hullabaloo) for driving with a suspended license after being caught drunk driving, while this gal gets just 15 more days (though in addition to time served) for shooting her husband in the back while he slept? I realize we're comparing apples and oranges here, but jeez. . .

[Rhino]

Mary Winkler Free After Serving Two Months for Killing Preacher Husband
Tuesday, August 14, 2007

SELMER, Tenn. — The woman convicted of manslaughter in the shotgun slaying of her minister husband was freed Tuesday after serving 67 days in custody.

Mary Winkler was released from a mental health facility where she had been undergoing treatment for about two months, defense attorney Steve Farese Sr. said. He has declined to identify the facility where Winkler was held....

...Winkler was sentenced June 8 to three years in prison but had to serve only 67 days — 12 in jail and the rest in the mental health facility — because of credit for time in jail before her trial, the nature of the offense and lack of a criminal record. The remainder of her term will be spent on probation....http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,293255,00.html