Testimony has begun in the trial of a Kentucky doctor charged with the murder of his wife in a 2009 boating accident. A jury has begun hearing the evidence in the trial of central Kentucky doctor charged with killing his wife by running her over with a pontoon boat. A jury will decide whether Dr. Steven Hall ran over his wife, Isabel, because of a love affair with another woman or by accident while trying to save her in the water. The event in question occurred on Herrington Lake while the couple celebrated their 21st wedding anniversary in 2009.

During opening statements, the prosecution attempted to paint a certain picture of the doctor describing that his motive in the death of his wife was another woman. They expressed to the panel of seven woman and six men on the jury that witnesses would testify that they saw the couple arguing on the boat prior to the accident and that the doctor only showed concern when people saw his wife floating under the boat.

The defense painted a much different picture. They countered by saying that her death was simply an accident and that "police went overboard to make their case." They expressed that the couple was having a wonderful time enjoying their anniversary when it went tragically wrong.

According to Hall, he was attempting to move the boat closer to his wife after she had fallen off the boat. According to news reports, Isabel swam in front of the boat and was struck and killed by the sharp edge of the front of the boat, not its propeller. By sides of the case agree his wife had a large number of drugs in her system at the time of her death including pain killers. Some believe this could have contributed to making her unstable on the lake the day of the accident.

The trial could last up to two weeks. If convicted, Hall may face a life sentence in prison.

Source: Kentucky.com "Kentucky doctor on trial in boating death of wife" 08/08/2010