Defense rests with McGuire opting not to testify
Jury heard character witnesses on final day of defense's case
BY KATHY CHANG
Staff Writer

NEW BRUNSWICK - As Melanie McGuire's defense attorneys rested her case after only four days of witness testimony last week, McGuire decided that she would not take the stand.

"I wish to remain silent," answered McGuire in a soft-spoken voice to Middlesex County Superior Court Judge Frederick DeVesa, who told McGuire that she has the right to testify and also the right to remain silent.

McGuire, 34, who is a former fertility clinic nurse, is on trial for killing her husband, William McGuire, 39, in their Woodbridge Center Plaza Apartment and later dismembering his body between April 28 and May 5, 2004.

McGuire, who resides in Brick Township, remains free on $2.1 million bail.

If the jury convicts McGuire of murder and the other 10 charges against her, she faces up to 50 years in prison.

The 12-woman, four-man jury heard from character witnesses portraying McGuire as a wonderful mother to her two little boys and an excellent nurse at the Morristown fertility clinic. McGuire wiped tears away during her friends' testimonies.

Anthony Scalfani, who met McGuire in college, described McGuire as the "best person he has ever known."

"She is straightforward and honest," said Scalfani, who said he did not speak to McGuire in 2004, but said they had started speaking again after he heard about what had happened to her husband. "I wanted to lend my support to her. I had attempted suicide and she helped me through it. She saved my life. She is a strong, kind and genuine person. I just have never known anyone like that."

Allison LiCalsi, who met McGuire in 1987 when they were both working at a department store and have remained friends, has sat in the courtroom in support of her friend during pretrial motions and during the trial.

"I have been here every day, all but two-and-a-half days," said LiCalsi, who at times had to compose herself during her testimony. "She is smart and funny. This is why we became friends. She is honest. I love her. She is the sweetest person and she is patient. She's great with kids. She even gives me advice on how to take care of my daughter. I trust her. She is rational and I haven't seen a violent streak in her. She is very hardworking and people love her."

Assistant Attorney General Patricia Prezioso asked LiCalsi if she was aware that her friend was not monogamous during her marriage with William McGuire and if she knew of any others besides Dr. Bradley Miller.

LiCalsi said she was aware of her friend's affair with Miller, but said she was not aware of any others.

Prezioso asked LiCalsi if she thought it was acceptable to call her friend honest if she was not monogamous in her marriage.

"It depends on the marital relationship," sighed LiCalsi.

Richard and Lorraine Blake, who live across the street from McGuire's parents, Michael and Linda Cappararo, in Barnegat, testified that they met McGuire in 2001 when Linda Cappararo brought Melanie over to their house and told them that her daughter was a nurse and she could help them.

"My daughter, Melissa, suffers from severe MS [multiple sclerosis] and at that time she had been in a state of vegetation," said Lorraine Blake.

"Melanie would come over three times a week. She became like a second daughter to me. She is sweet, kind and the most generous darling. She would give herself to two others before she thought of herself. She is a wonderful, giving person."

Blake testified that she did not know that William McGuire disappeared or he had been killed in 2004. Prezioso asked Blake if she thought Melanie McGuire would have mentioned something to her about it.

"We never had a discussion about it," said Blake. "It was something that I thought she would have mentioned. I learned about it after her arrest [June 2, 2005]."

Melissa Blake, 28, testified that McGuire had helped tremendously.

"I was a complete vegetable a few years ago," said Melissa. "Melanie is just a wonderful person who is beautiful inside and out. She is one of my best friends."

Richard Blake said that McGuire had an impact on his family.

"She provided support for me," he said. "I had a two-hour commute to work and I knew that she and her parents were there for my family if something happened. She had tremendous social skills and is caring and empathetic."

Wendy Edwards met McGuire as a patient at St. Barnabas Medical Center where McGuire was a nurse over 11 years ago.

"We became very good, close friends," said Edwards, who had to compose herself during her testimony. "She was one of my maids of honor in my wedding. She's very caring and compassionate, just a loving and honest person. Everyone thought highly of her as a patient. Something had gone wrong in my first cycle and she was right there."

Linda Smit, who traveled from Maine to testify, met McGuire as a patient at the Morristown fertility clinic approximately six years ago.

"I was impressed by how organized and comfortable she made you feel," said Smit, who said over the years they have not spoken as much. "I would e-mail and call her and she would always answer back during my first pregnancy. I sent an e-mail late at night and I was surprised she e-mailed me right back. She was an impeccable nurse. It was refreshing to see as a customer how much she cared and calmed us."

Prezioso asked Smit if McGuire was able to "organize, plan, and execute things out and everything that needed to get done, got done."

"Yes," replied Smit.

The defense also subpoenaed Elizabeth LaBlue, who testified that she had a one-night stand with William McGuire in October 2002. LaBlue, a project manager in Nashville, Tenn., came up to New Jersey to work on a joint project with the New Jersey Institute of Technology.

"My main point of contact was William McGuire," said LaBlue. "I was up in New Jersey for two days. We had lunch, went sightseeing, and saw some shops. Then we went to dinner and back to my hotel room."

Joseph Tacopina, one of Melanie McGuire's defense attorneys, asked LaBlue if she had sexual relations with McGuire that night.

"Yes," replied LaBlue, who said she left that morning to go back to Nashville. LaBlue testified that William McGuire had contacted her afterward.

"I told him to not contact me anymore and suggested that he and his wife should seek marriage counseling," she said.

During cross examination, the jury learned that William McGuire had discussed his wife while he and LaBlue were looking around shops and showed her a ring with a large purple stone that he said he wanted to purchase for his wife.

The state and defense made their closing statements on April 16.