Dawson lawyer objects to Servaas ruling

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -  

Just after the conclusion of the fourth day of testimony in the Tim Dawson murder trial, Dawson's lawyer has filed an objection about the cases' preliminary ruling.

The preliminary ruling in the case was made by Judge Steven Servaas, the district judge who's been recommended for removal from the bench after he moved out of his district as early as the year 2000.

Testimony took place today in the fourth day of the Tim Dawson murder trial. He's accused of killing his wife, Julia, four years ago.

Things just didn't add up -- that testimony coming today from the police officer who found Julia Dawson's van, and responded to the missing person call.

His evidence -- the focus of this morning's testimony against Tim Dawson -- accused of killing and dumping Julia's body in December of 2004.

24 Hour News 8's Emily Zangaro is live at the Kent County courthouse to explain what happened.

Sparta Police Officer Mark Wawrzyniak was on the stand for an hour and a half.

Through a series of evidence he walked the jury through what he found on December 12, 2004.
He says he found the Dawson's green van in Balyeat Park, ran the plate and eventually looked inside.

He also responded a few hours later to the Dawson's home after Tim called in to report a missing person.

At that point Officer Wawrzyniak says he started connecting the dots and thought something didn't make sense.

He says he knew of reports to the address before, and saw a note to Tim from Julia that elicited to a fight. That led him to think it was odd what was inside the van.

After the officer told Tim that his wife's van was found, he said Tim became somewhat tearful and said he didn't want to know where it had been found and he didin't want to go there either.