Friend: Accused Wife of Slain Pastor Apologizes in Jail

Fox News ^ | March 26, 2006 | AP

[stm]

SELMER, Tenn. — The preacher's wife charged with murder in the death of her husband wanted his congregation to know "she was sorry for everything she has done," said a friend who visited her in jail Sunday.

[TommyDale]

What if he was walking away from her after saying he would not stop molesting the daughter(s)? I think that would be justifiable homicide if I was a juror.

[jdm]

"Self defense or defense of her children seems like a good reason to me."

He was shot in the back. That probably -- not necessarily -- rules out self defense.

[mass55th]

"My prediction: she walks...."

Nah, she'll plead guilty to a lesser charge. If she planned this murder beforehand, which the prosecution may be able to prove, she could be charged with First Degree Murder, but she'll plead guilty and probably get a reduced sentence or some kind of sentence deal. I can't imagine her defense attorney is happy that she's talking to friends, unless her attorney is in the same room with her when she's meeting with these people and keeping her comments limited. The article doesn't say that, but it's possible he's there. That's why no comments about why she did it.

[Rte66]

Later information came out that she had rented the condo *after* the murder, not before.

[twigs]

Very few women would admit to being sorry in that case

But remember, until just several days ago, she was part of a Christian community that believes and lives sin and redemption. Given what we've heard about their being a happy and solid family to outside eyes, I would have been surprised had she not immediately expressed some sort of sorrow. Sorrow, remorse, desire for forgiveness--however she might express it. That's no doubt what she's done all her life when she sinned.

I have no idea what has caused this either, but if I were to make an uninformed guess, at this point, I wouldn't discount that you could be right that she felt trapped in marriage. Many people do feel this way.

[mass55th]

"He slurped his soup."

How cold and cruel your comment is. Bet it's removed by the mods.

/sarcasm

[martin gibson]

clearly, Ms. Winkler was acting out in symbolic reparation for the oppressed plight of ALL womyn throughout the world throughout history (uh, I mean her-story).

can't everyone see that the REAL victim here is Ms. Winkler?

[Dark Skies]

I was thinking more about the defense of her children. I would rather not speculate, but you can imagine what might have caused her to take such drastic action.

[Tony O]

I agree. That's why I would think she would have turned herself in immediately if abuse or molestation of her or the children was the motive. Instead she fled to a pre-determined location.

[twigs]

On the battle field or in self defense, yes. Other than that, no. She wasn't a soldier and there is no indication of needing self defense at the time. Was he shot in the back? And didn't she have a condo rented for herself and her daughters? That's pre-meditation. Report it if there's a problem. Or leave. But it's not her prerogative to kill.

[Tony O]

Thanks for that. I hadn't heard about that yet.

[oldironsides]

I wonder if this person was on any of the modern anti depression drugs?

[RedBloodedAmerican]

ok I thought you meant "killing" in general.

What she did was (likely) commit murder. Difference between murdering and killing someone.

[smalltownslick]

Look for a boyfriend heading for the hills as we speak.

But whose?

[TommyDale]

Maybe the condo had been rented for the entire family, and the husband wanted to stay home, rather than vacation. We don't know any real reasons yet.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

That or squeezing the tube of toothpaste from the middle. That really...grrrr...

[varina davis]

She's probably not a gun expert and perhaps meant only to scare him, but the weapon discharged. Sounds like a reasonable explanation, given her previous demeanor and reputation. IF she feared for her daughters, well, no one should mess with a mother bent on protecting her young.

[Tony O]

Yes, and maybe justifiable if that is the case. But it certainly won't strengthen that argument by the fact that she fled the state.

[twigs]

justifiable homicide if I was a juror.

Not me. She would have a responsibility to leave with the children. I think such reasoning is extremely premature since we don't know the details. If such is the case, the daughter will hopefully reveal it soon.

[mass55th]

"Yes there is."

True, but in this day and age, when they suspend 8 year olds from school for sexual harassment, all she had to do was tell someone if her husband was molesting any of the kids. They would be more prone to believe her about that then him. And what would be better? To have the embarrassment in the community that your husband was a wife-beater or a child molester, or have yourself pegged as a murderer and your kids be without a mother?

I briefly watched Fox & Friends yesterday morning and they were discussing the possible motives. Some woman called in saying she lived 21 years with a wife and child beater, and my first response was "why?" If you have no concern for your own safety, what about your kids? 21 years? They cut the woman off finally, and the hosts were dumb-founded and didn't really know what to say in response.