TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Wednesday was the second full day of trial for Denise Williams.
Day 2 of trial started with the cross examination of Brian Winchester, the state's main witness. As we found out Tuesday, Winchester and Denise Williams were having an affair for about three years before Mike Williams was murdered.
During the cross examination, Winchester admitted that he and Denise were "obsessed with each other."
He later described how he killed Mike, and how he hid the body in his suburban until he could dispose of it.
In the state's redirect, Winchester was asked to read part of a letter that Denise wrote him while he was trying to get back with his then ex-wife Kathy.
"My dear sweet, beautiful, adorable Brian, yes, this letter is going to be sappy. I'm sitting here on day two still reeling from all of this," read Winchester. "I feel every emotion a person can feel all at one time all the time. There is so many things I want to say to you. So many things that I want you to know."
Denise Williams and Winchester were seen being very friendly with each other prior to Mike's murder in late 2000. Sometime near 2004, Denise walked in on Winchester while he was intimate with another woman.
The state called many more witnesses, including Mike's brother and mother.
Court wrapped up at about 4:15 p.m. Wednesday afternoon as the last witness for the defense is scheduled to be in town later on Wednesday.
This witness will be questioned Thursday morning, followed by the start of the state's case. Closing arguments are still expected to begin Friday.
LIVE UPDATES from Day 2 of trial
Here's the latest:
4:16 p.m.:
The defense's last witness is not flying into town until tonight. This means that court is over for the day and will resume tomorrow morning. The State will begin their case Thursday, with closing arguments expected to start Friday.
4:00 p.m.:
Cheryl Williams, Mike's mother, is now on the stand. She believed Mike was still alive.
She describes the the first time Denise confronted her about trying to get her to stop looking for Mike. Cheryl said that Denise was yelling at her, and saying that she will not get to see Mike's daughter again if she continued to look for Mike.
3:41 p.m.:
Nick Williams, Mike's brother, is now testifying. He is starting by talking about his mother's efforts to find Mike after he went missing.
3:07 p.m.:
Sargent Richard Wooten is now on the stand. He works as an FSU Police Officer. FDLE was using undercover officers to make to make contact with Denise Williams as she was leaving her place of work. Wooten was aware of FDLE's plan and "investigated" it.
Wooten claims that he and Denise spoke very frequently about the case. As time went on, Wooten was instructed to tell Denise to contact FDLE who could further investigate the "incident."
2:20 p.m.:
Timothy Langland, an insurance compliance specialist, has been called by the state. He is explaining the application for insurance that Mike Williams applied for. Denise was listed as the sole beneficiary.
Langland indicates that Mike Williams completed the application for a $1 million insurance policy in April 2000. Mike Williams also had a $250,000 life insurance policy.
Brian Winchester was the agent who helped Mike Williams apply for the $1 million policy, and also helped Denise Williams file the paperwork after Mike died.
1:46 p.m:
Dr. Lisa Flannagan, a medical examiner is now on the witness stand.
Dr. Flannagan was asked to go out to Carr Lake after Williams body was found. She was not able to do much of an examination of the remains at the scene due to the mud it was in.
When remains were x-rayed, Dr. Flannagan saw a number of skull fractures and birdshot pellets within the skull. Dr. Flannagan ruled the cause of death as a shotgun shot to the head/facial area.
1:30 p.m.:
The state is showing a number of photos from the Carr Lake before and while Mike Williams body was being excavated. William "Ward" Schwoob, the crime scene analyst is describing these images, and what they mean.
1:23 p.m.:
A crime scene analyst is now on the witness stand. He supervised the finding and removal of Mike Williams' body. The area was overgrown. Since Williams was underwater, cadaver dogs would not have been able to pick up on a scent.
11:58 a.m.:
Court is now in a lunch break until 1:00 p.m.
11:50 a.m.:
Angela Stafford is now on the witness stand. She also used to work with Mike Williams at Ketcham Reality while she was in school.
Stafford was also at the 1997 Sister Hazel concert with Lockhart, Mike and Denise Williams, and Brian Winchester. She says that Denise and Brian were "very friendly" toward each other in front of Mike and the rest of the group.
In 2004, Stafford had planned to go out with drinks with Denise and Winchester. Denise was unable to go as her babysitter canceled. Stafford and Winchester went out. At the end of the night, they went back to his place where they got intimate.
Denise walked in while Stafford and Winchester were intimate. Denise left, and Winchester followed her out of the room.
11:14 a.m.:
Lockhart said Mike was drinking more than usual that night. Said Mike didn’t confront Brian and Denise. She said she never talked to Mike about the incident. Next witness Angela Stafford will testify after a 15-minute break.
11:05 a.m.:
Howard Drew has finished testifying. The state has called Lindsay Lockhart (maiden name Ketcham) to the stand. Mike Williams started working for her dad when she was in about 6th grade, and she got to know him well while helping with her dad's business through the years. She got emotional recalling how long she knew Mike.
The defense is now cross examining Lockhart. According to her, Mike never confronted Brian, and she never spoke to Mike about what she saw that night between his wife and Brian. She says that Mike is a private person.
She’s testifying about going to a concert at a venue called Floyd’s in Tallahassee. Said he saw Brian standing behind Denise with his arms around her waist, even though she was married to Mike. Lockhart said she felt “discomfort.”
10:58 a.m.:
Next state witness: Howard Drew, a friend of Mike Williams who got him interested in hunting, particularly duck hunting. One day, Mike wanted Howard to check out his new waders.
Howard cautioned Mike about how to react if water got into his waders while hunting. “Get a breath of air, stay calm, and shake those things off.” They practiced the technique in a diving pool. “He was a good student... he did everything fine.”
10:50 a.m.:
The state calls its 8th witness, Dr. Stephen Mnookin, who testified Winchester shared details with him about kidnapping Denise Williams.
Mnookin said Winchester said the best way to talk to Denise was to kidnap her. Winchester was reportedly worried about investigators finding out more about Mike’s death after they talked to Denise.
10:41 a.m.:
Judge asks Winchester questions from the jury: Was he medicated prior to giving proffer or testimony? No. Was there a plan for him to access insurance funds individually? No.
Judge: No discussion about a plan? Winchester: Correct. “We wanted to be together, but the money was just icing on the cake.” Winchester was dismissed after a quick question by state regarding the jury inquiry.
The plan referenced by the judge was about Winchester getting insurance benefits from Mike Williams’ death. Winchester said there was no such plan, since Denise was the sole beneficiary in the policies.
10:38 a.m.:
The judge and counsel are in a sidebar conversation about the next witness. Prosecutors said they didn’t want Winchester to overhear the discussion, so the judge agreed to sidebar.
10:34 a.m.:
The defense has been granted a limited cross-examination in response to the photos. Way asks Winchester if he’s with Denise in any of the photos, to which he said maybe one, but not in an intimate way. Couldn’t recall when the photos were taken.
10:29 a.m.:
The jury has just reviewed photos of a sexual nature of Denise Williams and Brian Winchester’s ex-wife Kathy. The state is attempting to prove a known sexual relationship among Kathy, Brian and Denise. Those photos have NOT been shown to those in court.
9:50 a.m.:
The state is back to question Winchester, who said he had to be truthful in his proffer and testimony in court in order for his immunity agreement to be enforced.
9:47 a.m.:
Brian Winchester is back on the witness stand. Denise Williams’ attorney Ethan Way is cross-examining Winchester.
Way relates Mike Williams’ murder to the Biblical account of Uriah’s death by King David after wanting to be with Uriah’s wife.
Way: “So, you killed Uriah.”
Winchester: “Yes, sir.”
Still no emotion from Denise Williams. Meanwhile, the jury is straight-faced. A few jurors are slightly rocking back and forth in their chairs.
Winchester described the judge presiding over his armed kidnapping case as 'Hangman Hankinson.' That’s the judge in THIS case, too — literally sitting next to him. Hankinson grinned slightly after that comment.
Way: “You’re a murderer. Isn’t that true?”
Winchester: “Yes, sir.”
Way: “You’re a liar. Isn’t that true?”
Winchester: “Yes, sir.”
Way: “I have nothing further.”
WTXL reporters Stephen Jiwanmall and Jennifer Meyers are in court with the very latest:
