ROCKLAND, Maine — A 69-year-old Rockland man accused of trying to kill his wife by pushing her off Maiden Cliff in Camden last year has no memory of the events, according to his attorney.
Defense attorney Walter McKee, who represents former Camden resident Charles R. Black, said Friday during a hearing that this would be a case of who pushed whom, not a case of a mistake or an accident.
McKee also said after the hearing held in Knox County Superior Court that he will challenge the state’s right to have obtained 540 pages of his client’s medical records. He said the state obtained the confidential records about two weeks ago through a search warrant and said the prosecution did not follow proper procedures, including notifying the court so that he could object to the request.
The trial had been rescheduled earlier this month from March to May but Justice Jeffrey Hjelm said Friday that September or October is more likely after Assistant District Attorney Chris Fernald said that there may be more evidence being provided to the state that will have to be turned over to the defense. The district attorney’s office schedule during the summer is already busy, Fernald said.
Hjelm took no action on a request by the defense to have the trial moved outside Knox County. McKee cited extensive pretrial publicity about this case in support of moving the trial to another venue such as Lincoln County, noting that news stories were written about hearings even when they were simply to amend bail conditions. Hjelm said the issue could be raised again when a jury is being selected.
McKee also asked that separate trials be held on the charges related to the alleged incident atop Mount Megunticook on April 7, 2011, and charges related to two other alleged incidents of assault against his wife, Lisa, that occurred the prior month.
McKee said it would be unfair to bring up the prior issues that occurred on separate dates and that do not relate to the allegations of the April 7 incident.
Fernald argued, however, that those earlier alleged acts on March 17 and March 24 go directly to motive, intent and planning. In one of those earlier incidents, according to police reports, Charles Black climbed a ladder to the couple’s attic. When his wife was on the ladder, he fell on her with all his weight and later claimed he had passed out, according to the report. In the other incident, the couple was on Mount Battie and she was hit from behind by her husband. He claimed to her that he had passed out in that instance as well, according to police reports.
“These all show intent, a common scheme, and motive,” Fernald said.
Hjelm did not rule on the request for separate trials but said he likely would issue an order in a week to 10 days.
Black was indicted in July on charges of attempted murder, two counts of elevated aggravated assault, two counts of aggravated assault and two counts of domestic violence assault.
The state alleges that Black struck his wife, Lisa, one or more times in the head with a rock, dragged her body to the edge of the cliff and pushed her off the mountain. Black told police he had passed out and fell forward, striking the back of his wife’s head with his head, according to the police report filed at the time of the incident.
Lisa Black fell a short distance, but then got up and managed to make it down to the bottom of the mountain, where she was spotted by a passing motorist. She was taken to the hospital, and Charles Black was found injured after a subsequent search. He was arrested a few days later after he was released from Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor.
His wife had recently inherited $4 million and she told police that her husband had been taking her money without her permission, according to police reports. The wife also maintained that Charles Black had been having an online affair with a former girlfriend from Arizona.
“I could never kill my wife.” – The only true statement Mr. Black could make in court.
My wife tells me I forgot to put the toilet seat down this morning, but I can’t recall any of the events.
By the way, this criminal is from Camden, not Rockland. Get your story straight.
He lived with his wife in Camden when the incidents occurred, but I think he may live in Rockland now.
he also hasn’t been convicted yet.
“I could never kill my wife” – well he wasn’t successful that time. Doesn’t remember? He’s full of more stuff than the turkey.
Black’s lawyer’s now tells the court that Black has no memory of the events at Maiden Cliff. So I wonder if Black will have an epiphany when he hears his wife testify, suddenly and miraculously recover his memory, and recall and testify that it didn’t happen the way his wife said it did – that, consistent with his lawyer’s theory, it was his wife and not he who did the pushing. Is it possible that such a miracle of justice for the defense could happen during a criminal trial?
So if he is released? He goes and pounds on her some more and decides he cant remember that either?? Sorry, they will have to do a mental disposition on him and find out if he is competent or not. Either way he is getting locked up.
$4million is a heck of a incentive to knock her off.
How convenient that he “can’t remember”!
Attorney McKee claims it would be “unfair” to bring up his two recent prior assaults against the victim. Unfair to whom? Why Attorney McKee, of course….. he might actually have to work harder to get this bum off.
If he did assualt her in they past why did she stay with him? Maybe now that she controls the money She would have more motive to get rid for him? As far as motive I think that is not relative. Lets stick to facts was all I was saying . All to often jurrys are awayed by emotions not facts. Funny a friend of mine admitted to drinking prior to an accident BAC came back 0.00 no alcohal. My mother said when she was on jurry duty the jurry asked what the BAC was in that case but she went along with the jurry to say the man was guilty and never gave the jury BAC. I said she you would have convicted this person in the other case when in fact the person did drink but did not have alcohol in thier system when they had the accident without all the evidence. The case she was on the guy was probably guilty . Makes you wonder what percentage of people convicted are guilty ? I was arrested at one point in my life for something I did not do witness did not tell the truth . I thank god that I did not go in front of a jury . The judge was more fair in my case. Seem like judges are trained a bit more into seeing the truth not the emotions. Bottom line if you are guilty and you know try a jury . If not the judge is much better at looking at the facts in most cases.
Difficult case. Not a good idea to try this man in the papers. Only medical facts, history and good police work will tell this story not half witted comments in the paper. It is far too easy to jump to judgement when one or both MAY be suffering from Alzheimer’s.
So tired of perps blaming others. He had motive she did not. He has a history of “passing out” in ways that harm her. Duh, who can’t connect the dots? Apparently he and his attorney.
Would she have to share the inheritence if he left her for the woman he was carrying on the online affair with? If so this could go to motive…also, never understood how she only fell a short distance and had little harm done — he falls a great distance and looks like someone took a bag of rocks to his head.
Why would he have more of a motive than she would? I believe in a divorce assets are spit 50/50. As far as an online affair? I do not get that part maybe she was not doing her wifely duties . Most people need some attension. Lets Just look at the facts of the case not emotions. It dose not look good for the man . Isn’t the man to blame most the time? I have found woman can be just as bad as men sometimes they are a bit more trusted and more likely to get away with affairs .
Her ‘wifely duties’? Maybe he hit his head on the cave wall.
Wifely duties???? I think maybe David has hit his head on the cave wall!
The phrase “her wifely duties” needs to be retired. Nobody is obligated to have sex with anyone, especially someone they suspect of trying to kill them. He had the option to honestly divorce her if he was so unhappy, instead of being unfaithful.
If, in fact, he was.
Ok I stand corrected on that part of my statement.
Well, part of a husband’s duties is not to try and murder his wife!
Wow, this guy does a lot of passing out, coincidentally around his wife and high places.
He seems only to “passout” and “can’t remember” at the most opportune times……all incidents involving his wife. hhmmmmm
Had SHE been the one pushing HIM off the cliff, I’m sure he WOULD remember that since he could use it as his defense.
Can’t remember, we hear that all the time when one time penguin supporters speak of the last election.
Just my opinion , but I believe, by the looks of his head ( and other things I have noticed as well), that he was the one knocked in the head with rocks. j/s
Can’t Remember ? I hope he doesn’t have Alzheimer’s. That was Reagan’s first symptom when he sold arms to the Iranians and couldn’t remember who the Contra’s were.
Makes perfect sense. I can’t remember if I ever tried to push my ex off a cliff. I also can’t remember our wedding anniversary. Does that mean I was never married?
This one would have been a good one for COLUMBO “Peter Falk”, “There are a couple of loose ends I’d like to tie up. Nothing important you understand.” “I must say I found you disappointing; I mean your incompetence. You left enought clues to sink a ship. And for a man of your intelligence, you got caught in a lot of stupid lies.”
Would have been a good case for Columbo (Peter Falk). I must say I found you disappointing; I mean your incompetence. You left enought clues to sink a ship. And for a man of your intelligence, you got caught in a lot of stupid lies.
Typical excuse from any nut! I can’t remember anything.
That is why you have to pay big bucks to have a good barrister like McKee. He has a winning record and he would be my choice if i ever needed the best barrister in Maine.