Closing arguments in Dawson trial

By Emily Zangaro

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) -- The case against Tim Dawson -- the man accused of murdering his wife in December of 2004 -- is one step closer to the jury.

Court has ended for the day, after hearing the closing argument of the prosecution. Jurors could have stayed late to hear the defense's closing argument, but decided to wait until tomorrow.

That means the jury will have the case Wednesday.

Tuesday, the defense called about a dozen witnesses.

Judge James Redford read instructions to the jury when court resumed after lunch recess. Each attorney asked for at least 45 minutes for their arguments.

But prosecutor Bill Rollstin went on for more than two hours.

He says this case boils down to motive -- why did Julia Dawson die?

Rollstin pointed out two things: The $100,000 life insurance policy that was purchased 15 months before Julia died, and the amended judgement of divorce between Tim Dawson and his first wife.

He said Tim had been down the divorce path before and didn't want to go through it again.

"If you love your wife and you care about her wellfare, and you care about where she might be and you want to help the investigation, you don't lie. And that's what he did. And the only logical conclusion as to why he did is because he is the person that killed her," Rollstin said.

Tomorrow the defense will give its closing argument, the prosecutor will have a chance for rebuttal and then this case is in the hands of the jury.

In the morning, the defense called many witnesses to the stand. One of the defense witnesses was another jail cell inmate at the time Dawson was in the Kent County Jail.

John Burford said he shared a cell with both Dawson and Marvin Snyder. He was called to refute testimony Snyder gave last week against Dawson.

Burford said Dawson seemed scared of Snyder.

24 Hour News 8 will continue to follow this trial.