Man Accused Of Killing Wife On City Street Goes On Trial
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A woman, who had just been granted a protective order from her husband, was stabbed repeatedly on a busy street.
Suzanne Collins reports that man, Cleaven Williams, is now on trial for murder.
It was a dramatic scene outside District Court on North Avenue in November 2008. A woman was on the ground of the busy intersection, bleeding profusely after being stabbed seven times. Veronica Williams' carotid artery was gushing, and she was cut in the cheek, lip and throat.
A policeman happened to be near and saw Cleaven Williams sitting on top of Veronica continuing to stab her. The officer got out his taser and shot Cleaven Williams twice.
Tuesday, a jury stared as the crime lab tech held up the murder weapon. The prosecutor called it a hunting knife.
"I heard a horn, 'beep, beep, beep.' Didn't know what it was. I heard two gunshots, came up the street. See the lady on the ground," said Jane Paterson, witness.
The prosecutor is arguing Cleaven Williams came to the court that day to stake out his wife who had just been granted a protective order, intending to kill her and then commit suicide by police. But he didn't die. A dramatic note written by Williams was presented in court, which says "I killed her" and asks that his mother raise their three children.
Cleaven Williams was well-known by police who handled the stabbing. He was the president of the Greenmount Community Association, whose mission is to prevent crime.
The autopsy determined that Veronica Williams was pregnant at the time of her murder.
