Ohio woman who was 3 when her mother was killed won’t testify at stepfather’s murder trial
By APTuesday, June 16, 2009
Ohio woman who was 3 when mom killed won’t testify
TOLEDO, Ohio — The case against an Ohio man accused of strangling his wife and stuffing her body into a car trunk nearly 18 years ago is going to the jury.
Prosecutors in Toledo rested their case Tuesday without calling the defendant’s former stepdaughter to testify.
The 20-year-old woman was 3 years old when her mother died. She said at the time that she saw the killing.
The defense had objected to her possible testimony, arguing that her memories were unreliable and that she had made inconsistent statements.
Thomas Zich faces life in prison if convicted of killing his wife. Her body was found in the trunk a week before Christmas in 1991.
His lawyers did not call any witnesses. Jurors are expected to hear closing arguments and begin deliberating the case Wednesday.
