Lawyer: My Client's Wife Committed Suicide, There Was No Murder
HERMOSA BEACH (CBS) — The lawyer for William McPherson -- Tony Capozzola -- insists his client is no murderer.
McPherson's wife, 43-year-old Pamela Joanne Walsh, died June 19 inside the couple's Hermosa Beach home. She had a gunshot wound to the head.
McPherson, 52, insists it was suicide. Says his lawyer, "There was nothing to this, except a suicide."
Investigators interviewed the husband and described him as cooperative. "They detained him for about 20 hours," says Capozzola, "A bit unusual. His wife had just been shot."
But officials also said the death was suspicious. Moreover, neighbors reported hearing loud arguing before they heard the gun shot.
Capozzola told CBS2 and KCAL9 reporter Serene Branson that neighbors who heard arguing coming from the couple's home before the June 19 shooting were mistaken. "They had a minor argument. Nothing that serious. She had been drinking. Toxicology reports will show this. He said, 'Why don't you go to bed?' He stayed in the kitchen. That's when he heard one shot."
McPherson told Hermosa Beach officers that his wife shot herself, police said.
Walsh was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Officials said McPherson did have a trace of gun powder residue on his hands. Capozzola explained that the transfer might have occurred as McPherson "held his wife's hand. He took the gun out of her hand."
Homicide investigators told the Daily Breeze Tuesday there was no new information to release but the investigation was on-going.
Jail records show Hermosa Beach police arrested Walsh at 12:44 a.m. June 16 on suspicion of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Police said she was found intoxicated on Pacific Coast Highway.
She was booked into the Hermosa Beach jail at 1:01 a.m. and was released at 6:55 a.m. after posting $250 bail. Capozzola said McPherson was out of town when the arrest occurred.
Neighbors say they didn't know the couple well. They just moved to the area in May, reported Branson.
