Victim’s Fearful Words Before Her Death To Be Heard In Poisoning Trial Of Her Husband
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Before her death in 1998, a Wisconsin woman gave her neighbor a letter saying that if she died, her husband should be suspect number one.
Julie Jensen’s fearful words will be heard during her husband’s murder trial, which starts with jury selection Wednesday.
Until recent years, using such evidence in court was virtually unheard of because of constitutional guarantees that give criminal defendants the right to confront their accusers.
But the Wisconsin Supreme Court created new rules, prompted by a U.S. Supreme Court decision that laid the groundwork for the woman’s accusatory letter and statements to police to be used as evidence in the trial.
The prosecution alleges Mark Jensen poisoned his wife with antifreeze so he could be with his girlfriend, now his wife.
The defense counters that a depressed and disturbed Julie Jensen poisoned herself – to frame her cheating husband.
