Sep 12, 2008 6:41 pm US/Eastern
Trial Begins In Perez-Olivo Murder Case
Prosecutors: Disbarred Attorney & Neighbor Of Clintons Killed His Wife For Life Insurance Claim Back In 2006
WHITE PLAINS (CBS) ―
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Carlos Perez-Olivo, a man whose wife was shot and killed in their car, apparently by a gunman who ran them off a Westchester County, N.Y., road, tried to become physical with a television reporter who asked if he was actually the one who murdered his wife.
CBS
One of the most shocking crimes of 2006 finally went to trial Friday.
A former Chappaqua neighbor of Bill and Hillary Clinton is accused of killing his wife, and shooting himself as part of a cover-up.
A reporter's question -- did you kill your wife? -- once caused Carlos Perez-Olivo to lash out violently, but on Friday in court the disbarred lawyer sat quietly as he was portrayed as the cold blooded killer of his wife, Peggy.
Prosecutor Christine O'Connor said the Perez-Olivos presented a "veneer of a stable, happy, 30-year marriage."
But Carlos was unfaithful, unemployed and nearly broke.
"He's quite capable of hatching and committing this perfect murder," the prosecutor said.
The defense called that claim a "fairy tale."
"The forensic evidence and the ballistic evidence don't support their theory, so they have to manufacture evidence to suit their needs," attorney Christopher McClure said.
The alleged "manufactured evidence" involves a gun used in the crime -- a witness will testify he saw the Walther PPK in a house Perez-Olivo once rented -- and even offered to buy the gun from him.
Perez-Olivo's lawyers will argue that's a flat-out lie.
New York State Police divers found the gun four days after Peggy Perez-Olivo was fatally shot in the head.
Carlos was also shot in the belly, but prosecutors say it was self-inflicted as part of a scheme to kill Peggy and collect nearly $1 million in insurance money.
The defense will claim the Perez-Olivos were attacked by unknown assailants, perhaps one of Carlos's former clients. Lawyers will also argue the police work was so shoddy, the "real killers" got away.
The couple's three children have publicly expressed support for their father, but they weren't in court Friday. The two grown sons and the teenage daughter are all expected to be called as witnesses.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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