James "Jimmy" Kidwell, 32, faces three first-degree murder charges for the deaths of Tulsa residents Rebecca Barney, 42; her ex-husband, Fred Barney, 50; and a passer-by, Kenneth Maxwell, 24.
The prosecution argues that Kidwell and Rebecca Barney met on the Internet, and set up a date. They contend Kidwell and both Barneys, who were said to have maintained a platonic relationship after their divorce, went out to a bar on the night of Feb. 22, 2003, then returned to the home the Barneys shared, at about 2 a.m. Feb. 23.
About an hour and 15 minutes later Maxwell made a call to 911 to report a fire at the Barney home. When firefighters arrived they found Maxwell dead in the driver's seat of his car. He had been shot in the back of the head. Inside the home Fred Barney was found dead on the floor with a gunshot wound to the back of his head. Rebecca Barney, who had also been shot in the back of the head, was found naked in the bedroom with three pillows on top her head.
Prosecutors said that seminal fluid DNA evidence found on Rebecca Barney will point to Kidwell.
Defense attorneys argued that Kidwell admitted having contact with Rebecca Barney, but denies killing she and her ex-husband.
Investigators speculate that the killer set the Barney home on fire to hide the crime, then found Maxwell outside the home calling for help, and also shot him in the back of the head.
Kidwell was arrested in Gore in March 2003.
Kidwell's trial began Monday with jury selection, and testimony began Thursday.
