A New Jersey woman who shot dead her Republican-activist husband - as he lay naked in bed on Christmas Day - rolled her eyes and shook her head as the judge denied her bail during her virtual court hearing.
Marylue Wigglesworth, 51, claims she feared for her life when she shot her 57-year-old husband David B. Wigglesworth in the bed the couple shared- inside their Hamilton Township, New Jersey home on December 25, 2022.
After she killed her husband and father of their adult son with a single gunshot she told police when they arrived that they had been arguing before she confessed to the crime.
During the virtual hearing on Tuesday, Atlantic County Superior Court Judge Patricia M. Wild rejected the motion to grant bail, despite Wigglesworth's lawyer informing the judge that her client acted in self defense and 'feared for her life.'
Though the judge acknowledge some of the evidence shown, which included bruises on Wigglesworth and a letter that documented years of physical violence, Wild ruled there was not sufficient evidence in the case to offer bail.
Marylue Wigglesworth, 51, claims she feared for her life when she shot her 57-year-old husband David B. Wigglesworth in the bed the couple shared in their Hamilton Township, New Jersey home on Christmas Day - December 25, 2022 - in a act of self defense
On Tuesday, during the virtual hearing Atlantic County Superior Court Judge Patricia M. Wild rejected the motion to grant bail, despite Wigglesworth's lawyer telling the judge she acted in self defense
Judge Wild was assigned to re-evaluate Wigglesworth's case and eligibility for bail after an appellate court ruled that Wigglesworth's 'evidence of self-defense,' had not been considered, Law and Crime Network reported.
But, once the evidence was reviewed, Wild claimed that Wigglesworth had other options stating 'an assertion of self-defense rings hollow in this circumstance.'
'The state asserts that the victim was naked in bed watching television at the time that he was shot,' she said in part.
'Defendant had time to cool off and to choose a different path of behavior rather than leaving the room, retrieving her gun, returning to the bedroom and shooting her husband.'
Though the couple's social media shows the couple in happier times - enjoying a boat ride, barbecuing, and spending time together - Wigglesworth's defense attorneys, Melissa Rosenblum and Jonathan Diego, argued that Wigglesworth was in an abusive relationship and was being 'overcharged' for the homicide.
Marylue Wigglesworth faces murder charges
They submitted character letters from David's own brother, who wrote that he was 'fully aware of his brother's inner battles and struggles, and his short fuse and temper.'
An affidavit submitted by their son David states that 'he loves his dad, and this is hard,' but he also talks about the fact that his dad was violent and abusive.
Rosenblum claimed 'this was during the course of her whole marriage,' and believed the abuse was the reason the couple only ever had one child, according to Breaking AC.
On the night of the murder, an affidavit of probable cause showed Wigglesworth called police at 10.19pm, and requested help from the Hamilton Township police because she and her husband were fighting.
She suffered bruising and injuries to her arms and torso from her husband that night, Rosenblum claimed, and 'feared for her life' before she 'acted in self defense' and shot her husband.
According to a press release from the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office said the officers responded to a call about an 'injured male' at the Wigglesworth's Mays Landing home just before 10.20pm.
When the police arrived, they found the couple inside their bedroom with a handgun, and Wigglesworth admitted to shooting her husband, whom Levy said was laying in bed naked with the television on as he died at the scene, the release said.
Rosenblum had argued in court that the detectives failed to look into her claims of abuse — and had yet to share key information with the defense.
'What the state did not do and did not present you, your honor, is that when she did talk to the police, she admitted that she shot him,' Rosenblum said of her client.
'She stated at least six times to the officers that there was a fight and an altercation. They never took pictures of her that night to see what her injuries or bruising were, or at least I have not received them, Your Honor.'
The attorney further argued that Wigglesworth volunteered for years at local churches and that she had no criminal history, and not a danger to the community — and as a result should therefore be allowed to roam free until her trial.
She also claimed that Wigglesworth would not attempt any obstruction of justice if she were granted pre-trial release.
But, Levy countered: 'The fact that she hasn't been violent to the rest of the community is all well and good. However, she was extremely violent on this night.'
In the end, Wild sided with prosecutors, and said: 'This court does not find that those particular arguments have overcome the resumption of detention.'
Friends and family were shocked following Wigglesworth's arrest late December.
David had been known in the community as a Republican activist, working to support local GOP candidates and even running for a town position in 2019 — though many of his recent posts have been in favor of socialism and supporting liberal ideals like defunding the police.
He also volunteered for the Boys and Girls Club of Atlantic City, and served on the Hamilton Township Planning Board.
Authorities say Marylue had admitted to shooting dead her 57-year-old husband that night following an argument
When cops arrived at their Mays Landing home, authorities said they found David naked in bed suffering from a gunshot wound while the television was on. A handgun laid nearby
Marylue had previously called the cops to report that the two had gotten into an argument
Marylue and David Wigglesworth share one son, David, an economist
But in private, Francis Gallagher told DailyMail.com, Wigglesworth relationship with David was very 'off and on.'
‘They could argue about anything,' he said. 'I have no idea what happened and I cannot comment over whether this was the result of political differences.’
‘I haven’t seen Marylue since this happened,’ said Gallagher, her brother ‘Nobody from our family has. I’ve tried to see her but I’ve been told we can’t until she has been up before a judge.
‘I support my sister, and my nephew David. However, I’ve been told not to say too much.’
She is currently being held in the Atlantic County Justice Facility without bail until her murder trial.
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