ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Danielle Redlick is on trial for the January 2019 death of her husband, Michael Redlick. Proceedings are set to continue Monday at 9 a.m.

What You Need To Know

  • Michael Redlick was found dead at age 65 in his Winter Park home in January 2019
  • His wife, Danielle, is charged with murder in his death
  • While both sides agree she stabbed her husband, her attorneys say she did it in self-defense
  • RELATED: Opening statements For Winter Park murder trial begin

Redlick, 48, is charged with second-degree murder and evidence tampering, and would spend life in prison if found guilty.

Opening statements in the murder trial began Thursday, with testimony running into Friday before being put on pause for the weekend.

Michael Redlick, who worked as director of external affairs and partnership relations at the University of Central Florida’s DeVos Business Management Graduate Program, was Redlick's step-father.

Years after her mother died, Redlick and Michael Redlick began dating. They later married and had two children together.

Defense attorney Catherine Conlon said the pair’s relationship was volatile and filled with a history of abuse and cheating.

So far, a detective and forensic scientist have taken the stand. The detective, Pamela Woehr, spoke about the evidence collected throughout the investigation. That includes an email she says Redlick wrote her husband in May 2018; it was read aloud in the courtroom.

In it, Redlick apparently writes, in part:

“Although my words may be cutting, they are only sounds. A dull knife compared to the sharp disloyal, deceiving, phony, and never-ending selfish knife you continue to twist in my back as if it’s a sport at this point."

Redlick’s attorneys have said the couple’s relationship endured years of abuse and cheating, and that she stabbed Michael Redlick when he attacked her after seeing texts on her phone from another man.

According to 911 records revealed in court, Danielle Redlick called 11 hours after her husband was stabbed, and claimed her husband had a heart attack and stabbed himself.

Forensic scientist Stuart James was questioned on the evidence collected at the scene and said it was altered.

“What we’re seeing here is almost the entire floor is covered with a large area of reddish-brown stains. Which, even looking from this perspective some appear diluted. It is not in pristine form,” he said.

Redlick has rejected a plea deal for a lesser sentence.