Testimony graphic, powerful in Susan Wright trial

Her attorney claims self-defense

10:05 PM CST on Tuesday, February 24, 2004

11 News Staff Reports

Click to watch Carolyn Mungo's report

Jurors in the trial against a Harris County woman heard two different stories of what happened the day she stabbed her husband dozens of times, then buried him in the backyard.

The state told jurors in Susan Wright’s murder trial that Wright is a conniving woman, who would not divorce her husband because that went against her religion. So, the state said she planned to murder Jeff Wright, and cash in on his life insurance policy by seducing him.

The defense team insisted Wright is a peaceful person.

KHOU-TV Susan Wright confers with attorney, Neal Davis, during opening statements.

But in court the 27-year-old mother of two was painted as anything but peaceful.

"She committed murder in the most brutal, horrific, unbelievable way you’ve ever seen," assistant district attorney Kelly Siegler said. "She took that knife and stabbed him everywhere in the front of his body."

It didn't take long for the jury to hear the gruesome details.

Susan Wright has admitted to stabbing Jeff Wright 193 times. The state said she tied him to a bedpost while butchering him.

“What should have been a love nest, what should have been a night of lovemaking, turned into a torture chamber. Blood was everywhere,” prosecutor Siegler said.

The jury heard details of how Jeffrey Wright was killed in his own bedroom, in his own bed at the hands of his wife. "She took that knife and she stabbed him in the eyeball, she took that knife and she stabbed him in the mouth. She took that knife and stabbed him in the ear," said Siegler. "She took that knife and knicked at his penis."

The defense does not dispute that Jeff Wright was stabbed 193 times after being tied to his bed with his own necktie. They don't dispute the pictures that show how Susan Wright buried the body in the backyard, only to be dug up by the family dog. It had been buried in a hole he had dug for a fountain.

But the defense told jurors Susan Wright had acted in self-defense. "For years before this incident Jeffrey Wright had kicked, pushed and punched Susan Wright," said Wright’s attorney Neal Davis. “She’s a peaceful person. We’re gonna bring you witnesses to talk about how Susan is a nurturer.”

The defense said years of abuse lead to the killing, that Jeff Wright was high on cocaine that night and actually grabbed a knife first, hit the couple’s son, then beat and raped Susan Wright. "She wrestled the knife from Jeff and out of the maternal instinct to protect her kids she stabbed him," said Davis.

She then opened her eyes, saw her husband standing over her with a knife, and fought back. “At that point Susan had a total physical break with reality,” attorney Neal Davis said. “She sees herself from above, looking down stabbing Jeff. That’s a total break. She goes and she gets a necktie and ties his hands to the bed, and she continues stabbing him.”

The prosecution claims Susan Wright was after life insurance money, that she bought paint and bleach to cover up the crime on purpose.

"He told Susan, if Susan ever left him, that he would kill her or he would kidnap those kids," siad Davis.

"This case is not about self-defense," said Siegler. "This case is about selfishness."

Opening arguments and testimony was extremely graphic and powerful Tuesday and jurors were warned that is exactly what would happen.

The courtroom was packed with family members and friends of both Susan and Jeffrey Wright.

Testimony continues Wednesday.