The prosecution is expected to rest Tuesday, March 11th in the murder trial of comic retailer and Pittsburgh Comicon organizer Michael George (see "Comic Retailer Charged with Murder"), according to the Macomb Daily.  The trial began on February 26th. 

According to daily reports on the trial by the newspaper, the prosecution has argued that George wanted to be rid of his wife to free himself to marry a store employee, with whom he was having an affair at the time of the murder, and to benefit financially.  George collected on a $130,000 life insurance policy and on a theft claim for $12,600 worth of comics.  In addition to murder, George is charged with insurance fraud in conjunction with the theft claim. 

In addition to the affair George was having with Renee Kotula, his current wife, at the time of the slaying, evidence was also presented of another affair, with Patrice Sartori, which ended after George asked her to babysit one of the George's children while he went to pick up his wife and new baby from the hospital in 1988.  A former female customer of the store also testified that George pursued her within weeks of his wife's death, and told her that nothing had been taken from the store. 

A witness also testified of hearing two loud arguments between George and his wife at the store on the day of the murder, and of numerous arguments in the months before the killing. 

The defense is expected to focus on the lack of physical evidence placing George at the scene at the time of the killing, and to present alternate theories of the killing involving people seen in the vicinity of the store on the day of the murder, and a convicted murderer picked up in the county with stolen comics shortly before the murder. 

The defense portion of the case will probably wrap around the end of the week, with closing arguments to follow.