Defense Begins Calling Witnesses in Pastor Murder Trial
By: Eric Deabill
Updated: January 16, 2013
Stroudsburg, Monroe County - After calling more than 30 witnesses to the stand, the prosecution rested its case Wednesday morning in the murder trial of Arthur Schirmer in Monroe County.
The former pastor is facing charges for killing his second wife in 2008 and then trying to cover up her death.
Shortly after 10:30 AM, the defense took over.
Schirmer's attorney has said the case is built on nothing but bad science and gossip. As the defense takes over, the trial is getting more national attention and people are interested to see if Schirmer will testify in his own defense.
A number of witnesses took the stand in Schirmer's defense Wednesday, including two of his own children and his new fiance. That woman admitted having an "emotional" relationship with Schirmer around the time his wife died in 2008.
Schirmer is accused of killing his second wife Betty Jean in 2008 and then trying to cover up her death with a car accident on Route 715 in Pocono Township.
Schirmer's new fiance is Cynthia Moyer. She took the stand late Wednesday afternoon. It was the suicide of her hubsand inside the Reeders United Methodist Church that sparked police to take another look into death of Betty Jean Schirmer.
Moyer was an administrative assistant at the church. Before her husband's death, she said she was struggling with her feelings and whether or not she loved the pastor while he was still married.
It was an emotional day Wednesday on other accounts.
Two of the children of Jewel Schirmer, the pastor's first wife, also took the stand Wednesday.
Son Micah Schirmer tried to help his father's case. He said his father was distraught after Betty Jean's death and he would often cry and even looked "lost" at times.
During the couse of the eight-day trial so far, prosecutors have tried to show Schirmer as cold and uncaring.
Other defense witnesses who testified Wednesday told the jury about the accident that Schirmer was involved in.
One witness testified Betty Jean's injuries "could have been" consistent with that of a car accident. Another witness said there were initally no red flags at the scene but in hindsight realized that there should have been.
Schirmer's attorney says he expects to rest his case either late Thursday or Friday. He will call expert witnesses on Thursday. It is unknown if Schirmer will testify in his own defense.
