Brian Winchester testified on Tuesday against Denise Williams, who is on trial for allegedly plotting the death of her first husband, Mike Williams, The New York Post reported. “All you will have to go on is the word of the man who actually committed the murder.”The defense wrapped up their case Thursday afternoon with Denise Williams declining to testify.Closing arguments are set for Friday morning before the jury begins deliberations.The widow faces life in prison if convicted of any of the charges. A police officer had called her about Brian’s vehicle being in a church parking lot near Denise’s home, but Winchester had said that he had gone to Arkansas to hunt, according to Katherine’s testimony.Things became awkward from that point onward, and strained their long-time friendship. It was for a necklace spelling out the name Meridian. Prosecutors are trying to suggest that the defendant’s statement referred to a murder plot between Denise and Winchester.You can watch Thomas’s testimony, including the recorded conversation, in the player above.Jerry Michael Williams, also known as “Mike,” went missing on December 16, 2000. A complete list of artistsLinda Hamilton’s twin sister, Leslie Hamilton Freas, dead at 63Linda Hamilton’s twin sister, Leslie Hamilton Freas, dead at 638 Terrifying Deaths and Catastrophic Injuries From New Jersey's Infamous "Class Action Park"8 Terrifying Deaths and Catastrophic Injuries From New Jersey's Infamous "Class Action Park" Williams disappeared on a boating trip to Lake Seminole in 2000, and Williams and Winchester are accused of plotting his murder by staging it as a boating accident and collecting his $1.75 million life insurance policy. A complete list of artistsWho’s performing at the VMAs 2020? Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. He alleged Denise to be his co-conspirator.This is where Williams’ apparently suspicious comment comes into play.“She wanted me to tell [Winchester’s father] Marcus to tell Brian that she wasn’t talking,” Katherine said on the stand.This account happened a week after Brian’s arrest for the kidnapping. For 17 years, the real estate appraiser’s body was missing until his buried remains were discovered last year near Carr Lake with signs of foul play, Prosecutors allege Denise was having an affair with Mike’s best friend, Brian Winchester, and conspired with him to kill her husband so they could be together.
He would go on to wed Denise in 2005, but that marriage would end in divorce some eleven years later.Winchester was arrested in 2016 after he allegedly kidnapped Denise because he became paranoid that Denise would turn him in to law enforcement.Before he was tried for kidnapping, Winchester was offered immunity in Mike’s case if he The details Winchester provided to authorities last year led to charges against Denise for murder, conspiracy, fraud and accessory after the fact.Denise’s lawyers maintain her innocence in Mike’s violent death and said she had no knowledge that he was murdered.“There is no tangible evidence or physical evidence tying Denise Williams to this crime,” attorney Philip Padovano said. Winchester told his wife that he was on a hunting trip in Alabama, but she received a call from a police officer that his car was abandoned in a lot near Denise’s home.Thomas claimed she felt uneasy around Denise and her husband since it was clear there were romantic feelings between them.“Whenever it was just me with Brian [Winchester] and Denise, it was uncomfortable. Winchester confessed to authorities that he lured Mike to Lake Seminole and shot him in the face.Winchester’s first wife, Kathy Thomas, was recruited as a police informant and recorded a phone call with Denise earlier this year in which she claimed to know the truth about Mike’s murder.“I’ve always just pretended like I don’t know anything — and I do know,” Thomas said in the call played in Leon County Courthouse.However, Denise quickly interjected on the call saying, “What do you know?”In the conversation, Thomas breaks down crying claiming she knew Denise and her husband were cheating while Mike was still alive.“I’ve always thought to myself if I had said ‘Mike I think Brian has a girlfriend’… I’ve always wondered if he’d still be here,” Thomas said in the recorded conversation. Thomas recalled there being a lot of drinking and dancing during the trip. She said that she, Brian, the defendant, and Mike all planned to visit Panama City in the spring of 2000 to celebrate Denise’s 30th birthday. Thomas has a son with Brian, and she described Denise Williams as a good stepmother to the boy. Thomas came across a receipt dated 07-28-2001, she said. “She wanted me to tell [Winchester’s father] Marcus to tell Brian that she wasn’t talking,” Katherine said.That conversation was recorded by law enforcement, with Thomas acting as a source. Winchester’s first wife, Kathy Thomas, was recruited as a police informant and recorded a phone call with Denise earlier this year in which she claimed to know the truth about Mike’s murder. We've received your submission.Secretly recorded phone conversations in which Denise Williams was confronted about her first husband’s 2000 slaying were played for jurors at her murder trial.Investigators presumed the 31-year-old husband accidentally drowned and was eaten by alligators.