Charlie Warner, Special to the Independent
Orange County Superior Court Judge Sheila Hanson agreed last week to postpone the murder trial of Michele Lynn Green until May at the request of her attorney.
Attorney Ronald MacGregor asked for the postponement to ensure that a psychologist and expert witness is free to testify. Green is on trial for the murder of longtime boyfriend Richard Begley; friends claim their troubled relationship was likely a factor in his death.
Green, who was in the court this past Thursday, Feb. 2, seemed anxious, often pulling aside MacGregor to whisper a nervous question in his ear. She was accompanied by a friend, who sat in the visitor’s gallery with Green before her case was called by Judge Hanson.
Begley died Feb. 21, 2015, found on a lawn on La Vida Drive in Laguna Niguel with a fatal abdominal stab wound. He and Green were Laguna Beach High School alumni, and had been together for two years. Both had been in previous marriages and Begley is survived by two adult children.
Friends say the couple’s relationship was troubled, with abuse from both sides.
Begley was a lobsterman and handyman, while Green was a first grade teacher in the Santa Ana Unified School District. Friends of Begley remember him having an affectionate, big personality.
A week after her arrest, Green posted $1 million bail on Feb. 27, 2015. She pleaded not guilty on March 10, 2015. If convicted, Green will face a sentence of 26 years to life in prison.
Green’s attorney told the court he intends to seek the testimony of expert witness Dr. Veronica Thomas of Woodland Hills. She is certified in couples therapy and relationship issues, according to her website. When asked about Thomas, the prosecution declined to comment.
Last October, the proceedings were postponed, as a witness was unavailable to testify until and after February 2, 2017, MacGregor told the court. Deputy District Attorney Eric Scarborough recently replaced Deputy District Attorney Michael Murray on the case.
The trial is currently scheduled for May 15 at the Central Justice Center at Orange County Superior Court.
Correction:
The article “Murder Trial Postponed for May,” in the Feb. 10 edition inaccurately described Richard Begley’s profession. He was a plumber and owned Pipeline Plumbing.
This writer did not fact check Richard Begley’s occupation, he was never a “handyman”. He was a certified plumber!! Please make correction thank you
Will do.
[…] subjects of a photo accompanying the story “Child Actor Cast in Two Shows,” in the Feb. 10 edition were incorrectly identified. They are Corwin and his on-screen mother, […]
What is the update in this subject? Inquiring mind and good long time friend of Richard
What’s going on with the trial? I was friends of both of them and went to school with them in Laguna as well.
Has anyone found any updates? Friends of Begs. We think about him a lot
3 years, no trial, what a crock. How about some justice for the victim. I guess the best defense, if you have the money, is delay, postpone,put off and reschedule.
I was ambivalent about posting this information, because I’m so far away from Laguna and the tragedy is three years old now. And I certainly don’t want to post this information on Richard’s page. But I see many people not knowing what is happening with Richard Begley’s murder case. We can talk about gone, but not forgotten, but he was murdered and the accused is pleading not guilty and is out on bail.
The case can be followed at The Superior Court of California:
https://apps.occourts.org
Case Number: 15HF0196
There is a pretrial hearing set for 05/11/2018 08:30 AM in court room- C5
Thinking of you, Begs.
He was my neighbor when he lived with his wife and two children. Richard was awesome and the sweetest guy ever. Always was so nice to my wife and kids. I saw them both at the teachers credit union before he passed. She was a little crappy to him there while we were waiting in line. What a loss. Give her life. She took the gift of life from someone who loved life! I will never forget him playing the bagpipes on his birthday every year.
Has anyone heard anything else? Michael C
If I heard right. Judge said no more delays. Jury trial starts ,January 2020. About time, Bet if rolls were reversed he would have been in jail all this time. Unlike the defendant who been on the outside these 4 years. Hope you enjoy the 7 -25 yrs behind bars
All said and done ” what about the ,
Children ”
Life’s too short .
Well it’s been 6 years now still no trial date for green she is going to walk any updates ?