1/18/13 - After some final questions to state police, the prosecution rested its case Thursday in the murder trial of Jerome Kowalski. Prosecutors accuse the 66-year-old Kowalski of killing his brother and sister-in-law in their Oceola Township home in 2008. The defense began its case Thursday with testimony from friends, family, and coworkers of Kowalski. Both of the defendant's sons testified that a relative in Florida gave the family information gleaned from news reports about details of the scene, such as the position of the bodies. Witnesses had said earlier that Kowalski had no way of knowing that information without having committed the crime. Chief Assistant Prosecutor Pamela Maas asked questions to impeach that testimony by pointing out that the relative testified earlier that he gave no such information. Defense Attorney Walter Piszczatowski also called his first expert witness, Forensic Psychologist Dr. Jeffrey Wendt, who testified that he evaluated Kowalski to be a depressed, passive-aggressive individual with alcohol dependence and a tendency to try and please authority. Testimony will resume on Tuesday and 53rd District Court Judge Theresa Brennan informed jurors that she is expecting closing arguments by that afternoon. (JM/TD)
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