California judge ordered to stand trial in wife's fatal shooting

Lina Portman2 weeks ago

0 2 minutes read

Anaheim police said that when they arrived on the scene, Orange County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson said, “I just killed my wife.” »

A California Superior Court judge who claims he accidentally shot his wife following an argument last year has been ordered to stand trial on murder charges.

Jeffrey Malcolm Ferguson, a 73-year-old Orange County Superior Court judge, is charged in the death of his 65-year-old wife, Sheryl Ferguson, who was shot and killed at the couple's Anaheim home on August 3.

At a court hearing Thursday, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Eleanor J. Hunter denied a defense motion to dismiss Ferguson's case and ordered Ferguson to stand trial.

Ferguson's lawyer, T. Edward Welbourn, argued there was insufficient evidence against his client and pointed the finger at the couple's son, the only eyewitness, who told police that he believed the shooting was accidental, KABC-TV reported.

“He would never have intended to harm her,” Welbourn told reporters after an earlier court hearing, the network reported. “It's just a terribly tragic incident that happened… The last thing he would try to do is hurt the love of his life.”

USA TODAY has contacted Welbourn for comment.

Cops say Ferguson went down like liquor after shooting

The hearing featured testimony from three Anaheim police officers and a detective who arrived at the couple's home after their adult son called 911.

“I just killed my wife,” Ferguson said when police arrived, Officer Andrew Compton testified, according to KABC-TV.

Anaheim Officer Joshua Juntilla said Ferguson smelled of alcohol and asked, “What did I do?” My son will hate me forever,” according to the Los Angeles Times.

Ferguson, who was in tears, asked if his wife was dead at one point and also told police to “shoot me,” officers testified.

Hunter ruled that there was probable cause that the judge intentionally killed his wife and that there was enough evidence to support a murder charge, the Times reported.

The argument that preceded the shooting

The Fergusons and one of their adult sons, Phillip, were eating at a Mexican restaurant before the shooting, Anaheim police Detective Michael Nguyen said, according to KABC-TV. Phillip told police his parents had argued and his father pointed a “gun-shaped” hand gesture at his mother, and she then left the restaurant, Nguyen said .

After dinner, the three went home and watched TV before arguing again, Phillip told police.

As Phillip was about to go out, he heard his mother say something like, “Why don't you point a real gun at me?” He told police he then saw his father holding a gun which immediately went off.

Phillip told police there were a number of reasons he believed his father accidentally fired the gun, including the fact that his father “never fired one-handed” and his parents argued regularly, KABC-TV reported. He also said he believed alcohol played a role and discussed an earlier incident in which his father fired a bullet into a bathroom floor, according to the Times.

The judge concluded that: “While I appreciate the son's view that it was accidental – bless his heart – he is in a horrible position,” she said, according to the Times.

Ferguson's arraignment is scheduled for July 5.

Anaheim police said that when they arrived on the scene, Orange County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson said, “I just killed my wife.” »

Cops say Ferguson went down like liquor after shooting

The argument that preceded the shooting

Lina Portman

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