Published: June 27, 2008 01:14 pm         

UPDATE – Accused killer portrays self as “good guy”

By KATHY MELLOTT

THE TRIBUNE-DEMOCRAT

BEDFORD - Joseph W. Clark’s repeated reference to himself on the witness stand as a good guy and “a Christian” threatened today to open a door he has battled to keep closed.

Clark, 49, of Everett, charged in the kidnapping and murder of Holly Christine Notestine and on the stand in his own defense, was told to stop the character references or he could be facing questions about his criminal past.

“If he wants to talk about being a good guy, I’ll tell them (jurors) what a good guy he really is,” Bedford County District Attorney William Higgins said while the jury was not present.

Higgins asked Judge Daniel Howsare to prohibit Clark in his attempts to portray himself as a respectable citizen.

Clark has an extensive criminal past of convictions and charges, with most involving violence toward women.

The concern about Clark’s past prompted defense attorney Thomas Crawford to admonish his client.

“If you continue to reiterate what a good guy you are, your past history my come out and be used against you,” Crawford said.

The admonition came after Howsare agreed that Clark’s own references to his character could potentially give an opening to the prosecution for questions into his past bad acts.

Clark, often non-responsive and belligerent in cross-examination by Higgins agreed to change his tact with the jury.

Today is the 10th day in the murder-kidnapping trial. Clark spent all morning on the stand.

Clark was charged with the crime in April 2005. The issue of the defendant’s past is largely responsible for the delay in trial because of the appeals to the state’s Superior and Supreme Courts.

The appellate courts had upheld Howsare’s ruling that the jury cannot be told of Clark’s criminal record.

The prosecution is expected to call a number of rebuttal witnesses this afternoon.

     

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