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PROVO — The fate of a former Utah doctor charged in the death of his wife will soon be in the hands of his peers.
Jury selection begins in 4th District Court Tuesday in the trial for Martin MacNeill. He is charged with murder and obstruction of justice in the 2007 death of his wife, Michele.
MacNeill, 56, is accused of over-medicating his wife and administering a "dangerous combination" of drugs and drowning her in the bathtub of their home, according to charges.
Originally, autopsy reports showed Michele, a mother of eight, died of natural causes. Three years later, the case was reopened at the request of her children.
A new analysis of a toxicology report in 2010 changed everything. Michele's cause of death was changed to "combined effects of heart disease and drug toxicity," and the manner of death was changed to "undetermined."
MacNeill was listed as the prime suspect in her death.
One major factor for prosecutors in this case: They said MacNeill's longtime affair with Gypsy Willis provided motive for MacNeill to kill his wife. Willis moved into MacNeill's house as a nanny shortly after his wife's death.
However, court documents indicate the defense requested prosecutors not "make comments about the immorality of MacNeill having an affair with Gypsy."
According to legal documents, MacNeill told paramedic Marc Sanderson that his wife overdosed on medication. MacNeill has pleaded not guilty.
Testimony in the trial is expected to begin on Thursday.
