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A teacher's husband accused of killing his wife's teen lover told interrogators in a videotape played in court that he had only a hazy recollection of killing the teen. What should happen to him? discuss
Tapes played at love triangle murder trial - CNN.com
-- A teacher's husband accused of killing his wife's teen lover told interrogators in a videotape played in court that he had only a hazy recollection of killing the teen.
Eric McLean has admitted that he shot his wife's teen-aged lover but says it was an accident.
1 of 3 "I don't really know what happened," a tearful Eric McLean, 33, said in the interview that was shown to jurors in his murder trial. "I mean I know that I've been under a lot of pressure but it's like, I don't know how ... that happened."
As the prosecution rested and the defense case began, Judge Mary Beth Liebowitz refused to throw out the first-degree murder charge.
The defense claimed prosecutors had not proved that McLean intentionally shot 18-year-old Sean Powell, the former student and lover of McLean's schoolteacher wife, Erin.
The defense argues that prosecutors failed to show McLean planned last year's killing. But a judge says it will be up to the six-man, six-woman jury to decide the case at trial.
A first-degree murder conviction carries a minimum of 51 years in prison. McLean has said he shot Powell, but claims it was an accident in the heat of the moment.
Erin McLean, who has been missing with the McLeans' two young sons for months and is blamed by both the prosecution and defense for causing the problems that led to the shooting, was listed as a prosecution witness but never called to testify.
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Eric McLean was questioned and videotaped at Knoxville police headquarters about 12 hours after the March 10, 2007, shooting of 18-year-old Sean Powell, the former student and lover of McLean's wife.
McLean was arrested that morning, picked up walking along railroad tracks, stunned and tired. He had left his old Honda automobile, filled with his sons' toys, about six miles away at the high school where Powell and Erin McLean met while she was a student teacher there in late 2006.
Criminal investigator Andrew Boatman interrogated McLean. The officer testified he tried to empathize with McLean to gain a confession of a premeditated murder.
"I'm telling you what you did, there's not a reasonable person that couldn't take the situation you've been in and look at it and not think about doing the exact same thing," Boatman told McLean in what the officer later testified was a ruse.
But McLean maintained, "Well, I never thought about doing that at all. No, I got the gun because I wanted to kill myself."
After his arrest, McLean said in television interviews that the shooting was an accident. He told Boatman in the interrogation he wasn't even "planning to scare" Powell that night of the shooting.
McLean told police that Erin admitted she had been seeing Powell for several weeks. When Powell came to the McLeans' small home and refused to leave, McLean called 911. He called off police when the boy made his way to his old Mercedes parked in front of the house.
"After me calling 911, it's just like basically a blur," McLean said on the video. "I remember him like starting to leave and then he didn't. And then I don't know what happened after that."
He told his interrogator, "I just think there is something wrong with me. ... I mean I would never do anything like that and I can't even believe that that happened."
Prosecutors say McLean went to his truck and got a high-powered rifle he claims he took from his parents a few weeks earlier to commit suicide and walked to the car. Chief Medical Examiner Darinka Mileusnic-Polchan testified a single shot to Powell's head killed the boy. She also spotted a small wound on Powell's right hand that suggested the youth, who had alcohol in his system and cocaine in his urine, tried to block the shot.
Boatman said he wanted a signed confession from McLean as well. So he asked McLean to write a letter of apology to Powell's adoptive parents, Scarlett and Jack Powell. It was another ruse Boatman said he was taught by the FBI.
But McLean took him literally. "I am sorry I took Sean from you," McLean's letter began. "I am so sorry for everything. I would hope that one day wounds heal enough for you to move on from this." Crabtree said the Powells were never shown the letter, which was read in court Monday.
Police also found McLean's diary notebooks describing his failing marriage, a suicide letter to his wife and a letter he wrote to Powell.
"You have had my wife for several months," the letter to Powell said. "Now it is clear to me that I've lost my family. I hope you're satisfied. I'm sure Erin will make a fine mother-bride for you."
In his undated suicide letter, McLean wrote Erin: "You are my soulmate. Even when I'm not alive with you any longer, I'll still be part of you. I will always love you more than anything, even when I'm dead."
Erin McLean was formally questioned by Knoxville police after the shooting, but she refused to answer anything. She was allowed to leave with her father, Boatman said. She has not been charged
Tapes played at love triangle murder trial - CNN.com
-- A teacher's husband accused of killing his wife's teen lover told interrogators in a videotape played in court that he had only a hazy recollection of killing the teen.
Eric McLean has admitted that he shot his wife's teen-aged lover but says it was an accident.
1 of 3 "I don't really know what happened," a tearful Eric McLean, 33, said in the interview that was shown to jurors in his murder trial. "I mean I know that I've been under a lot of pressure but it's like, I don't know how ... that happened."
As the prosecution rested and the defense case began, Judge Mary Beth Liebowitz refused to throw out the first-degree murder charge.
The defense claimed prosecutors had not proved that McLean intentionally shot 18-year-old Sean Powell, the former student and lover of McLean's schoolteacher wife, Erin.
The defense argues that prosecutors failed to show McLean planned last year's killing. But a judge says it will be up to the six-man, six-woman jury to decide the case at trial.
A first-degree murder conviction carries a minimum of 51 years in prison. McLean has said he shot Powell, but claims it was an accident in the heat of the moment.
Erin McLean, who has been missing with the McLeans' two young sons for months and is blamed by both the prosecution and defense for causing the problems that led to the shooting, was listed as a prosecution witness but never called to testify.
Don't Miss
Suspect left suicide note
No Such thing as 'deserved killing,' jury told
Teacher love triangle trial begins
Eric McLean was questioned and videotaped at Knoxville police headquarters about 12 hours after the March 10, 2007, shooting of 18-year-old Sean Powell, the former student and lover of McLean's wife.
McLean was arrested that morning, picked up walking along railroad tracks, stunned and tired. He had left his old Honda automobile, filled with his sons' toys, about six miles away at the high school where Powell and Erin McLean met while she was a student teacher there in late 2006.
Criminal investigator Andrew Boatman interrogated McLean. The officer testified he tried to empathize with McLean to gain a confession of a premeditated murder.
"I'm telling you what you did, there's not a reasonable person that couldn't take the situation you've been in and look at it and not think about doing the exact same thing," Boatman told McLean in what the officer later testified was a ruse.
But McLean maintained, "Well, I never thought about doing that at all. No, I got the gun because I wanted to kill myself."
After his arrest, McLean said in television interviews that the shooting was an accident. He told Boatman in the interrogation he wasn't even "planning to scare" Powell that night of the shooting.
McLean told police that Erin admitted she had been seeing Powell for several weeks. When Powell came to the McLeans' small home and refused to leave, McLean called 911. He called off police when the boy made his way to his old Mercedes parked in front of the house.
"After me calling 911, it's just like basically a blur," McLean said on the video. "I remember him like starting to leave and then he didn't. And then I don't know what happened after that."
He told his interrogator, "I just think there is something wrong with me. ... I mean I would never do anything like that and I can't even believe that that happened."
Prosecutors say McLean went to his truck and got a high-powered rifle he claims he took from his parents a few weeks earlier to commit suicide and walked to the car. Chief Medical Examiner Darinka Mileusnic-Polchan testified a single shot to Powell's head killed the boy. She also spotted a small wound on Powell's right hand that suggested the youth, who had alcohol in his system and cocaine in his urine, tried to block the shot.
Boatman said he wanted a signed confession from McLean as well. So he asked McLean to write a letter of apology to Powell's adoptive parents, Scarlett and Jack Powell. It was another ruse Boatman said he was taught by the FBI.
But McLean took him literally. "I am sorry I took Sean from you," McLean's letter began. "I am so sorry for everything. I would hope that one day wounds heal enough for you to move on from this." Crabtree said the Powells were never shown the letter, which was read in court Monday.
Police also found McLean's diary notebooks describing his failing marriage, a suicide letter to his wife and a letter he wrote to Powell.
"You have had my wife for several months," the letter to Powell said. "Now it is clear to me that I've lost my family. I hope you're satisfied. I'm sure Erin will make a fine mother-bride for you."
In his undated suicide letter, McLean wrote Erin: "You are my soulmate. Even when I'm not alive with you any longer, I'll still be part of you. I will always love you more than anything, even when I'm dead."
Erin McLean was formally questioned by Knoxville police after the shooting, but she refused to answer anything. She was allowed to leave with her father, Boatman said. She has not been charged
