Martin MacNeill

As the murder trial for Pleasant Grove doctor Martin MacNeill continues Tuesday, several prison inmates are expected to testify that the defendant revealed details about how his wife died, admitting to at least one that he killed the woman.

The inmates were housed in federal prison with Martin MacNeill while he was serving time for a previous ID fraud conviction.

Prosecutors say the inmates will testify that Martin MacNeill referred to his wife, Michele MacNeill, as a “bitch,” and said that he was glad she was dead.

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Jury selection starts Tuesday; prosecutors say motive was younger woman.

By JessicaMiller | The Salt Lake Tribune

Michele MacNeill, the mother of eight children and a former beauty queen, seems an unlikely candidate to have been killed in her own bathtub. While her husband, a well-known Utah County doctor who also has a law degree, seems just as unlikely in the role of murder suspect.

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Jury selection starts Tuesday; prosecutors say motive was younger woman.

By JessicaMiller | The Salt Lake Tribune

Michele MacNeill, the mother of eight children and a former beauty queen, seems an unlikely candidate to have been killed in her own bathtub. While her husband, a well-known Utah County doctor who also has a law degree, seems just as unlikely in the role of murder suspect.

But prosecutors say Martin MacNeill, 57, had an age-old motive — he was driven to kill his wife so he could continue having an affair with a younger woman.

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PROVO – Just two weeks before Martin MacNeill is scheduled to stand trial for the murder of his wife, Michele, a number of motions are still in the process of being ruled on.

Monday afternoon, 4th District Judge Derek Pullan ruled on a motion filed by the defense regarding a number of statements the prosecution can and cannot make during the trial including calling Michele a victim. read more »

Posted on: 4:37 pm, September 30, 2013, by Ben Winslow, updated on: 05:51am, October 1, 2013

PROVO — A judge has ordered prosecutors to not refer to Michele MacNeill as a “victim” in her husband’s upcoming murder trial.

The ruling by 4th District Court Judge Derek Pullan came at the end of a long day of arguments over motions in the high-profile murder case of Dr. Martin MacNeill. The judge granted a defense motion limiting prosecutors’ remarks in opening and closing statements, including the use of the word “victim.”

Judge Pullan also instructed prosecutors to tell police officers they are not allowed to refer to Michele MacNeill as a “victim” in their testimony, as it makes the presumption that she was murdered (the jury must determine that). read more »

November 15, 2012 12:22 am  •  Paige Fieldsted – Daily Herald

PROVO – Martin MacNeill, a former Pleasant Grove doctor accused of killing his wife in 2007, is seeking more information on the charges he is facing.

In a motion filed by defense attorney Randall Spencer this month, MacNeill is asking the court to require prosecutors to provide a document called a bill of particulars. Specifically, the defense is asking for “a more specific statement of the state’s theory as to the precise time defendant allegedly administered drugs to the decedent, how defendant allegedly administered drugs to the decedent, the precise time of death and the precise cause of death — was it a heart arrhythmia, drowning, potassium poisoning or something else?” Spencer wrote in his motion. read more »

October 23, 2012 12:18 am  •  Paige Fieldsted – Daily Herald

PROVO – Martin MacNeill pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and obstruction of justice on Monday. MacNeill is charged with killing his wife Michele in 2007.

Earlier this month, 4th District Judge Samuel McVey ruled there was enough evidence for MacNeill to stand trial on the two felony charges after six days of testimony during a preliminary hearing. The trial will be from March 5 to April 10.

“We are happy it is after the holidays,” Alexis Somers, MacNeill’s daughter, said. “I am anxious to see this resolved and put my father in jail permanently for my mother’s murder.”

Defense attorneys Randall K. Spencer and Susanne Gustin say they will be using at least a week during the trial for MacNeill’s defense.

“We have plenty of time to be prepared and we will be putting on a vigorous defense,” Gustin said. “Martin is looking forward to proving his innocence.”

MacNeill will be in court again on Nov. 26 for a scheduling conference.

October 12, 2012 12:25 am  •  Jim Dalrymple – Daily Herald

PROVO – After nearly two hours of argument Thursday morning, 4th District Judge Samuel McVey walked into a Provo courtroom and ordered Martin MacNeill to stand trial for murder.

MacNeill, who was shackled and sitting across the room in a jail jumpsuit, cocked his head slightly to the left but otherwise showed no emotion as the judge read the ruling.

The decision means a jury likely will hear the evidence that in August led prosecutors to charge MacNeill with first-degree felony murder and second-degree felony obstruction of justice. The charges stem from allegations that MacNeill killed his wife Michele in 2007 a week after pushing her to have plastic surgery.

After delivering his ruling Thursday, McVey provided a lengthy explanation of the case as it had been argued over nearly two weeks of testimony. Among other things, the explanation detailed how MacNeill, a doctor, was having an affair with Gypsy Willis at the time of Michele’s death. McVey went on to single out testimony by Willis and another of MacNeill’s former mistresses as being “inherently incredible.” read more »

October 04, 2012 1:47 pm  •  Jim Dalrymple – Daily Herald

PROVO — One of the first cops to arrive at the home of Martin MacNeill on April 11, 2007, Pleasant Grove officer Ray Ormond said he found a woman lying on a bathroom floor.

“She was bluish in color, kind of pale,” Ormond testified Thursday morning in court. “She had clothing on the upper half of her body, she was wet on the upper half of her body.”

The woman was MacNeill’s wife, Michele, who was pronounced dead later that day, despite efforts by Ormond and others to revive her. After an extensive investigation, prosecutors charged MacNeill with murder, saying he intentionally plotted Michele’s death. read more »

Witnesses testify of day Michele MacNeill died in her Pleasant Grove home

PROVO — Martin MacNeill was the “stronger” personality, the “dominant” personality, the one who neighbors talked to and the one who commanded conversations with the doctors who worked with his wife, Michele, witnesses testified Wednesday.

He taught Sunday School classes. She wrote on the board for him in her beautiful calligraphy. He answered questions about her medical history for her as she deferred to him. Neighbors who often talked to Martin MacNeill, 56, said they don’t remember doing much more than exchanging casual pleasantries with his wife. read more »