Mary Winkler Says Shooting Was Accidental
Mary Winkler told the jury of a man much different from her husband's small-town preacher's public image and said the shotgun accidentally "went boom" as she pointed it at him as he had done to her in the past. On trial for the murder of Matthew Winkler, Mary took the witness stand in her own defense and described her life of psychological, physical and sexual abuse.
Winkler told the jury that she didn't remember getting the gun from the closet where Matthew kept his hunting shotgun, but she did remember holding the gun and pointing it at him. She also said that she did not pull the trigger, the gun just went off.
She testified that she fled the area to spend some time with her three daughters before they would be taken away. "All I knew was that the stupid gun had went off, and nobody would believe me and they would just take my girls away from me," she told the jury.
Porn and Sexual Abuse
The description of the shooting came after Winkler described the psychological and physical abuse she endured from her minister husband. She told of being pinched, hit and kicked in the face.
She also told the jury that Matthew Winkler spent hours looking at pornography on the Internet. He also tried to force her to watch it and dress and act like the pictures she saw on the computer.
She identified a pair of stacked heels and a wig that he forced her to wear, along with a "very, very short" skit before having sex. Obviously embarrassed at having to discuss the topic in public, Winkler hung her head and avoid eye contact even with her own attorney during questioning.
She said she was also forced to commit "unnatural acts," referring to anal and oral sex.
Defense and prosecuting attorneys gave closing arguments late Wednesday. The judge will instruct the jury early Thursday and they will then begin deliberations.
Background:
The Trial of Mary Winkler
Forum:
Discuss The Winkler Case
See Also:
Preacher's Wife: Shooting Was Accidental
Mary Winkler Presents Her Side of the Story
Interpreting Mary Winkler's Body Language
Comments
Too many conservative christian women exist in marriages like this. The community percieves the appearance of ‘normal’ or ‘perfect’ and never looks past that surface. There are signs there, but no one wants to see.
The smaller the church, the smaller the town, the more isolated the prison that these women are in. It’s painfully difficult to get out, and there is always so much loss. I chose Divorce and becomming the pariah, but it would’ve been easy to be pushed the other way. The Man is always seen as the victim…. always.
I hope Mary recovers and goes on to live her life. I hope that her daughters at some point will get passed the brainwashing they’ve endured and be able to get to know the real person their mother is. Right now, they only know the ‘perfect picture’ that she was, and what everyone else is telling them now. They are much to young to know the truth, but eventually they will have to to be healthy.
I became interested in Mary’s case from the start haivng the feeling she was a victim of an abusive relationship and she oviously tried to avoid comment until later on in the legal preceedings to protect her children when she was forced to tell some of the facts.
I have felt led to follow up on this and found her name on the internet (really not expecting to)
My heart just goes out to her and I am praying she can return to as normal a life as possible and be reunited with her children where they NEED to be.
I would like to send a donation to her if an address could be provided to me.
Blessing and Peace to Mary and her children.
Carolyn Simmons
270-519-1918
I believe mary didint go get that gun She had been scuffling withh him. Mathew got that gun out it was in her sight she picked it up and it went off. for all we know that bullet prob was for her. I believe if she wouldnt have accidently shott him he was going to kill her the next day. she didnt remember getting the gun because she didnt get it Hello!!!!!!!!! She was so damn brain washed of him not really wantin to hurt her. She really blocked out some of the bull #### he was doing to her. She still wants to believe he was perfect. Its ok maybe the next guy will be for real but Mathew was not. I know she didnt try to kill him but I bet she has a whole lot of relief of him not trying to bully her and rape her like she is some little BOY Hell that enough to meke a person go crazy and num. And the Man tried to kill the baby but his damn concious stopped him. He was a true syco and a brain washer
This man was d-e-a-d! She was left to claim a-n-y thing she wished. The wig and shoes were NEVER proved to have been purchased by anyone in particular! They could have been bought anywhere by anyone. No effort was put forth to defend him, innocent until proven guilty but he lost that right to her! She acted like she was acting! And wasnt the bank scheme to be revealed the next day?She should have got TIME! Good message that you can murder and get away with it. Those poor girls. Hope they’ll be taken to Church!