A Southern California judge, Jeffrey Ferguson, 74, is on trial for the murder of his wife, Cheryl, aged 27. Ferguson has pleaded not guilty, claiming the shooting was accidental. On August 3, 2023, while out for dinner with their son Philip, the couple got into an argument. Prosecutors allege that Ferguson, after drinking, shot Cheryl while aiming a gun at her during the fight. Ferguson testified, maintaining that he never intended to kill her and that he only consumes alcohol on occasion.
Prosecutors highlighted a prior statement where Ferguson admitted guilt, saying, “I killed her, I did it.” The court proceedings have triggered significant attention in the Orange County legal community, and a Los Angeles judge is overseeing the trial to prevent conflicts of interest. The defense argues that the shooting was due to an accidental discharge while Ferguson was reaching for his gun, which he often carried.
Police found 47 weapons and over 26,000 rounds of ammunition in Ferguson’s home. Following his arrest, he was released on $1 million bail but was later re-arrested for violating bail terms by consuming alcohol. Ferguson, who has had a lengthy legal career and served as a judge for ten years, is currently suspended from hearing cases amidst these felony charges.
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