A woman, who police say made it look like she killed her ex-husband by accident, was back in court on Tuesday for a prelimary hearing. But the judge says there is enough evidence to move forward with her trial.
Gina Murphy and her husband had been separated for 15 years, but after a night last summer she's, now facing charges for killing him. She says it was in self-defense but police say that's not the case.
Murphy left the District Judge on Tuesday with no words. But during her time in court, she was visibly shaken.
It was back in August 2012, when police say she shot and killed her ex-husband Daniel Murphy. "It was really the lab work that told the tale of what happened," said Dauphin County Assistant District Attorney Fran Chardo.
Police say she made it look like self-defense, saying she shot her husband when he was lunging towards her with a knife. But during the investigation, one piece of evidence didn't match up. Chardo says Murphy placed a steak knife near the body of her husband. "The fact it was her fingerprints on the knife and none of Daniel Murphy's on the knife."
Murphy is charged with murder, tampering with evidence, false swearing and related charges.
A responding officer testified Tuesday, saying Murphy at one point during the night of the incident, said she snapped and shot her ex-husband.
But her defense spent a lot of time questioning the officer about collecting evidence. They investigated everything from blood stains and cuts on Ginas neck, to where exactly the fingerprints were on the knife. At one point in the hearing, Murphy broke down when her lawyer asked the testifing officer if she or her daughters had reported abuse for her former husband.
The courtroom was filled with family members, and at one point police were asked to keep a close eye on the families because of tensions.
As for Murphy, she's back at Dauphin County Prison. Her next court appearance is in April.
Gina Murphy and her husband had been separated for 15 years, but after a night last summer she's, now facing charges for killing him. She says it was in self-defense but police say that's not the case.
Murphy left the District Judge on Tuesday with no words. But during her time in court, she was visibly shaken.
It was back in August 2012, when police say she shot and killed her ex-husband Daniel Murphy. "It was really the lab work that told the tale of what happened," said Dauphin County Assistant District Attorney Fran Chardo.
Police say she made it look like self-defense, saying she shot her husband when he was lunging towards her with a knife. But during the investigation, one piece of evidence didn't match up. Chardo says Murphy placed a steak knife near the body of her husband. "The fact it was her fingerprints on the knife and none of Daniel Murphy's on the knife."
Murphy is charged with murder, tampering with evidence, false swearing and related charges.
A responding officer testified Tuesday, saying Murphy at one point during the night of the incident, said she snapped and shot her ex-husband.
But her defense spent a lot of time questioning the officer about collecting evidence. They investigated everything from blood stains and cuts on Ginas neck, to where exactly the fingerprints were on the knife. At one point in the hearing, Murphy broke down when her lawyer asked the testifing officer if she or her daughters had reported abuse for her former husband.
The courtroom was filled with family members, and at one point police were asked to keep a close eye on the families because of tensions.
As for Murphy, she's back at Dauphin County Prison. Her next court appearance is in April.
