Published: November 12, 2007 09:58 am      

Murder suspect seeks release from Michigan jail until trial

WINDBER — An attorney for a Windber comic store owner accused of killing his wife in suburban Detroit 17 years ago wants a Michigan judge to set bond so his client can be released from prison.

A bond hearing for Michael Ralph George is scheduled Nov. 20 before a Macomb County Circuit Court judge.

Defense attorneys hope to show George poses no danger and the case against him is weak.

“The judge may set a reasonable bond so he can be released until the trial,” attorney Carl Marlinga said.

No trial date has been set.

George, 47, is being held without bond in Macomb County Jail, where he faces murder charges in the execution-style slaying of his then-wife, Barbara Marie George, in July 1990.

He also faces insurance fraud and weapons charges.

George was charged in August by investigators in Macomb County after they reopened a cold-case file. He faces life in prison if convicted.

The prosecution has a witness it says can place George at the murder scene sometime between 5:30 and 6:15 p.m., when he told police he was with his mother, Macomb County Assistant Prosecutor Steve Kaplan said.

“A friend of his called the store and George answered,” Kaplan said. “He can’t be in two places at once.”

The defense contends no witness or physical evidence links George to the crime.

“Their entire case is based on Mr. George having a motive because of a rocky marriage and the expected insurance proceeds of $125,000,” Marlinga said.

He added that alibi witnesses can testify that the night of the murder George was 29 minutes from the store visiting his mom between 5:45 and 6 p.m.

Authorities said Barbara George died between 6:05 and 6:10 p.m.

Kaplan scoffed at the notion the case is weak.

Of the alibi witnesses he said: “Bring ’em on.”

Barbara George’s body was found by customers in the back of the store they co-owned. She died of a single shot to the head from a .38-caliber gun.

Although the weapon has not been recovered, Kaplan said authorities seized a gun – not linked to the crime – that George had sold to a friend.

“It shows he has an awareness and familiarity with guns,” he said.

Authorities described the couple’s nine-year marriage as unhappy, with Barbara George refusing to grant her husband’s wish for a divorce.

George remarried after his wife’s death and moved to Windber, where he opened Comics World on Graham Avenue.

Kaplan said the case is not linked to a supposed robbery of $30,000 of comic books as George had claimed.

“He tells police comic books were stolen and then tells a female he was wooing that nothing was taken,” Kaplan said.

Authorities said the shooter left jewelry and money in two cash registers.

“It was not robbery. It was murder,” Kaplan said.

Marlinga said George has recovered from the shock of his arrest and is optimistic he will be cleared.

“His spirits have greatly improved,” Marlinga said. “He really feels confident.”