NJ Pastor Accused Of Trying To Murder Mistress Represents Self In Court
PATERSON, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A jury is now deliberating the fate of a preacher on trial for trying kill his mistress by stabbing her over and over again.
In a strange twist, the preacher, Edward Fairley, is representing himself and has admitted how he injured his ex-lover, all while talking about himself in the third person.
"The defendant became so enraged that he began stabbing her with blind fury so he was no longer aware of his actions," Fairley said.
Fairley, the pastor of a New Jersey church, acted as his own attorney in the attempted murder trial of his mistress and fellow pastor, Simone Shields.
"The embarrassing truth is the that the Ms. Shields and the defendant were involved in an intimate affair for many years and that they hid that truth from others," Fairley said.
Shields survived the attack despite being stabbed 28 times as she got her hair done at a friend's house in preparation to marry another man, prosecutors said.
"He stabbed her with a knife through her hand -- through her hand, ladies and gentlemen," Passaic County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Gina Pfund said in court.
Fairly showed no emotion as the prosecutor described the gruesome attack, but during his own summation, the 61-year-old had a lot to say about Shields.
"Ms. Shields was deceptive," Fairley said.
Fairley said he couldn't remember stabbing her, nor could he recall screaming "You have to die" right before prosecutors said he pulled out the knife.
"What the defendant said to her was 'Why did you have to lie?'" Fairley said.
The prosecution said Fairley knew what he was doing and that he put on black gloves, a hoodie and packed his pockets with the knife and a power tool.
The jury has been charged in a case that prosecutors said also involved Fairly stalking and blackmailing Shields with explicit photos.
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