Jury Deliberates In 1990 Comic Book Store Murder Case
MOUNT CLEMENS (WWJ) - A Macomb County jury will decide whether a man is guilty of shooting his wife outside a Clinton Township comic book store in 1990.
Closing arguments were heard Thursday in the retrial of former comic book store owner Michael George who was accused of killing his wife Barbara more than 20 years ago.
After referencing witness testimony that placed George at the store the afternoon his wife was shot, and testimony that George had affairs with women, including the woman who is now his wife, Assistant Prosecutor William Cataldo urged jurors to find the defendant guilty.
"Friday the 13th was really a very unlucky day for Barbara George," Cataldo told the jury. "She was murdered in her prime with two small children, by her husband."
"But Friday the 13th has been a pretty lucky day for Michael George for 21 years, because he's gotten away with this," he said.
Defense attorney Carl Marlinga said he thinks there is reasonable doubt as to George's guilt.
"Just the simple fact that there's no evidence that places Mr. George at the scene of the crime at the time of the crime," Marlinga said.
"But there is evidence which places him more than a half-hour away from the crime scene at a period between 5:45 and 6 o'clock. The crime occurred at about 6:07," he said.
George's mother testified that her son was napping her the sofa when she took her grandkids to the park and he was still there when she returned 40 minutes later.
The jury was deliberating Thursday afternoon. Stay with WWJ and CBSDetroit.com for the latest.
