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The Latest: First day of testimony in firefighter trial over

Original Publication Date October 05, 2016 - 12:20 PM

TUCSON, Ariz. - The Latest on the murder trial against a former Arizona firefighter charged with killing his wife, mother-in-law and her friend. (all times local):

5 p.m.

The first day of a murder trial against a former fire captain in Arizona accused of killing three women has concluded with testimony from a one-time alibi for the defendant.

Rosemary Watson said on Wednesday that she covered for her then-husband David Watson in 2000 when his first wife went missing and in 2003 when his former mother-in-law and her friend were gunned down.

Her testimony will resume on Thursday.

The defence says there's no evidence linking Watson to the murders of Linda Watson in 2000 and Marilyn Cox and Renee Farnsworth three years later. Attorney Michael Storie painted Rosemary Watson as heartbroken and vengeful when she went to authorities in 2007 after her divorce.

David Watson has pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder and one count of second-degree murder.

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3: 15 p.m.

The first witness in the murder trial against a former Tucson fire captain says the defendant often told her that his ex-wife needed to disappear.

Rosemary Watson, the second wife of David Watson, testified Wednesday that her husband and his first wife were often fighting about custody and money during their divorce.

The prosecution says Rosemary Watson will testify that she lied when she provided an alibi for her husband during the August 2000 disappearance of his first wife, Linda Watson, and during the 2003 fatal shooting of Linda Watson's mother, Marilyn Cox, and her friend, Renee Farnsworth.

Cox and Farnsworth were gunned down in 2003 after a visitation with Linda and David Watson's daughter.

Rosemary and David Watson divorced in 2007, and Rosemary went to police to say that she had covered up for her husband.

The defence says there's no evidence linking Watson to the murders.

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3 p.m.

The attorney defending a former Arizona fire captain charged with killing his ex-wife and later gunning down her mother and mother's friend says police are pointing to the wrong person.

Michael Storie said Wednesday there isn't evidence to prove that David Watson killed ex-wife Linda Watson and her mother, Marilyn Cox, along with her friend, Renee Farnsworth. Watson is charged with three murder counts and has pleaded not guilty.

Storie said Linda Watson was battling alcoholism and lost her job the day she was last seen. He said her ex-boyfriend was volatile and that Linda feared him.

Storie painted the state's witness, Watson's second wife, as heartbroken and vengeful when she went to police to recant the alibi she had provided during the investigation into the killings.

Linda Watson went missing in August 2000. Cox and Farnsworth were gunned down in 2003.

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12 p.m. A prosecutor says the one-time alibi of a former Arizona fire captain charged with killing his ex-wife and three years later gunning down her mother and her mother's friend will testify that she lied on his behalf.

Jonathan Mosher said during opening statements that David Watson's second ex-wife, Rosemary Watson, went to police years after the murders and said she had covered for her then-husband. Rosemary and David Watson were married after he was divorced from Linda Watson, whom he is charged with killing and burying in the desert.

Mosher says there is plenty of evidence to prove Watson, a former Tucson Fire Department captain, killed Linda Watson to keep full custody of their young daughter and later killed Linda Watson's mom, Marilyn Cox, to keep her from having unsupervised visits with the girl.

Rosemary Watson is set to testify on Wednesday afternoon.

The defence hasn't delivered opening statements yet.

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10 p.m. Tuesday

Attorneys are set to deliver opening statements Wednesday in the trial of a former Arizona fire captain who rose through the ranks while police worked to solve three cold-case killings he is now charged with committing.

David Watson is charged with killing his ex-wife, Linda Watson, in August 2000 during a custody battle over their only child and disposing of her body in the desert. Her remains were found in 2003 in an area where migrant bodies have been found in the past and were not identified until 2011.

Three years after his wife was reported missing, Watson and his former mother-in-law, Marilyn Cox, were embroiled in a legal battle over the couple's daughter.

Police say he gunned down Cox, 63, and her friend Renee Farnsworth, 53, after they returned from a court-mandated visit with the young girl on May 7, 2003.

News from © The Associated Press, 2016
The Associated Press

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