Assaria Man Guilty Of Second Degree Murder
KSN News / Associated Press - Mon 04:26 PM 07/02/2012
Michael "Andy" Paulson convicted of second-degree murder
A jury in Saline County District Court finds an Assaria man guilty of murdering his wife and severely injuring her sister in a 2010 knife attack.
Michael "Andy" Paulson was convicted Monday of second-degree murder in the stabbing death of his wife Valerie, and the attempted second-degree murder of her sister.
In a trial that lasted nearly three weeks, the prosecution had tried to portray the crime as premeditated. The defense claimed Paulson simply "snapped" after hearing that his wife was having an affair.
The stabbings happened back in 2010 at the couple's home in Assaria.
Prosecutors said Paulson was facing the prospect of divorce and took a knife upstairs with him when he hid in the loft of their Assaria home as his wife was returning to pick up her belongings. Defense attorney Richard Ney told jurors that Paulson may have spontaneously picked up a knife that had been left in that area.
The jury heard closing statements from both sides on Friday.
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THEENFORCER
Monday 2 July 2012 16:28 Report this comment
That was wnat they should of found him guilty of and the jury evidently felt like I and others did.
Bune4
Monday 2 July 2012 16:59 Report this comment
Murder is murder. Does it really matter if it was "premeditated" or if he "snapped". One woman is dead & he tried to kill another!
getumgranny
Monday 2 July 2012 17:38 Report this comment
There was no question I don't believe in anyone's mind as to if he murdered his wife or not. The question, was it 1st degree/premeditated or unplanned. The man will be going to prison, which is most certainly where he belongs. I continue to pray for the children, they will need much strength to get through this whole thing. I truly hope they are able to move forward from this, they will always hurt but I pray they are able to find some happiness in their lives.
CenKanReader
Monday 2 July 2012 23:04 Report this comment
He DID NOT "snap"!!! All of his actions make it obvious that he planned to kill his wife! The only part that wasn't premeditated was the stabbing of her sister in law! It's apparent from his actions that he knew the difference between right or wrong, also. He clearly took steps to plan out the murder and when his sister-in-law became a witness, he tried to eliminate her. He calledl his children and told them that he killed their mother. His trips to the bank, everything he did proves that his actions were intentional and premeditated! This verdict is simply wrong. When your spouse cheats on you, you get a divorce or if you don't believe in divorce, you get counselling!
WhoCares
Tuesday 3 July 2012 09:47 Report this comment
*Gives GETUMGRANNY a standing ovation for her professional opinions in such a polite manner, yet, once again*. oh pulease.... go to the bingo hall or something, or is it to hot and you don't want to get out of your air conditioned car?
Viper
Tuesday 3 July 2012 09:51 Report this comment
I disagree with part of your statement granny, he does not belong in prison. He killed someone, an eye for an eye a tooth for a tooth, he should be killed in the same way that he killed his wife.
THEENFORCER
Tuesday 3 July 2012 13:15 Report this comment
Hey Viper what would you have done under all the same circumstance. Your old lady shacking up blowing 50K on a drunk she's doing it with then she branch's out heck who did she not do in Salina? There is alot more to this story but I did not see this statement from you when the guy who killed 2 people got off with 15 years or the Mexican who killed that guy and got the same.
THEENFORCER
Tuesday 3 July 2012 13:19 Report this comment
cenkanteader your not listening to the whole story on this. If you did you would know the jury made an excellent decision. If he was going to kill her he would have done it after he found out she spent 50k on the drunk she was doing. Then she tried to set a record in doing everyone she could and evidently she had a big problem also. He had plently of time to do her in if he wanted but he kept trying to make the relationship work. Maybe you toss away relationships but some people find it very hard to do.
Iamgonnagetu
Tuesday 3 July 2012 15:19 Report this comment
Cenkan you do not know all the facts and evidently did not read all the stories. Your statement is filled with holes.
getumgranny
Wednesday 4 July 2012 08:52 Report this comment
The Jury was given a job to do, it's my opinion they did the best job they could with the evidence that was presented to them!! The man most certainly could have chosen divorce over murder, and he should have. Obviously he felt there was still something in his marriage worth trying to fight for, I think most of us would have sent her packing when she ran up $50,000 on a drunk boyfriend. The system, with all of its flaws, did it's job. I respect the decision the jury made, I may not agree with it 100% but I do not know everything they were given as to evidence to work with. My thoughts and prayers remain with the families and the children involved, it's time to let them begin healing from this horrible situation they are faced with.
butterfly
Friday 6 July 2012 21:00 Report this comment
I wish everyone would stop and think how all this negativity is affecting his family. He and his wife have 3 beautiful children that lost both of their parents and don't need this right now!