Evidence against man accused of shooting ex-wife with bow and arrow presented

All of the evidence in a case against a man accused of injuring his ex-wife with a bow and arrow was presented by 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, and the jury was to hear closing arguments.

Seven witnesses testified for the state in the case against Merriel E. Housman, Jr., standing trial on charges of domestic assault and first-degree assault.

Housman Jr. allegedly used a hunting arrow with a "broadhead" tip to shoot his ex-wife, Betty Housman, in the back, on Sept. 1, 2008, according to testimony.

Cape Girardeau County Circuit Judge William L. Syler said the court plans to send the jury into deliberation tonight following closing arguments.

In opening arguments earlier Wednesday Cape Girardeau County assistant prosecutor Jack Koester told the seven women and six men seated in the jury box, one an alternate juror, that on Sept. 1, 2008, Housman Jr. shot his ex-wife in the back with the sort of bow typically used for hunting.

State's evidence would show that when Housman Jr. and Betty Housman were on their way back from a trip to Alton, Ill., together, they argued, and the threats began in the car, Koester said.

Housman Jr. threatened to use his bow and arrow on his wife when they returned to the home they still shared in Pocahontas, Koester said.

"Several hours later, Betty Housman was at Saint Francis being treated for an arrow wound to the back," Koester said.

While Koester argued that Housman Jr. acted intentionally when he shot his ex-wife, defense attorney Malcolm Montgomery said that his client had resorted to the bow and arrow in defense of their adult son, Merriel Housman III.

Housman III had become embroiled in an argument with Betty Housman, and she was threatening to shoot him with a .22-caliber handgun she'd taken from the safe in the house, Montgomery argued.

When the gun went off twice during the struggle between mother and son, evidence would show that Housman III was trying to defend his family when he fired the bow at his ex-wife, Montgomery said.