Three-quarters of $1 million — that's how much money Anita Smithey stands to receive from a life insurance payout if she is found not guilty of killing her estranged husband, Robert Cline III.
That was the latest twist in Smithey's second-degree murder trial, which could wrap up Wednesday in Seminole County.
Without the jury in the courtroom, an estate representative testified that an attorney for Smithey has already put in a claim for that insurance money. If she is found guilty, Cline's children would receive all of the cash.
The defense rested without Smithey taking the stand. That's all the jury was present for Wednesday. The prosecution and defense spent the rest of the morning arguing over how much of the interrogation video with Smithey being questioned by Oviedo police detectives will be admitted as evidence.
According to prosecutors, the defense could end up taking the rest of Wednesday afternoon with its rebuttal case after a decision is made on the tapes.
In yet another surprise, one of Smithey's relatives, who have been tight lipped about the case until now, wanted to speak out about the case.
"I do feel the case has been oversensationalized," said Monica Andry. "I don't think it has anything to do with rough sex and things like that. It has to deal with plain domestic violence, and sometimes when you have the safest plan to get out, it just does not work. This is one case where it ended in the worst way possible."