By JAY REEVES, Associated Press
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama man charged with killing his wife, an exhibitionist who posted provocative photos online, is both innocent and “heartbroken” over her death, his lawyer said Monday.
The statement from an attorney for William Jeffrey West represented the man’s first public comments since the death of Kathleen Dawn West, 42, in January.
Defense lawyer John Robbins said the 44-year-old man, who is charged with murder, has maintained his innocence since the beginning.
“We are going to do everything that we can to establish that he is not guilty of this crime,” said Robbins. “It appears that the state’s case is based on circumstantial evidence.”
A court document alleges West used a liquor bottle to kill the woman. Police have said she died of a head injury in what they described as a domestic argument.
West was found partially nude on the street in front of the couple’s suburban home in Calera, located about 35 miles south of Birmingham.
The woman posted risque photos on social media, and she had a paid site where people could see more revealing images. West knew about his wife’s activities and wasn’t jealous or angry, said the lawyer.
“We will be looking into his wife’s double life, among other things, to see how her ‘other’ lifestyle is connected to her death,” Robbin said.
West, who was fired from his job as an unsworn police officer at Birmingham-Southern College, is “heartbroken” over the loss of his wife and is worried about their daughter and how the loss is affecting her, Robbins said.
West, who was arrested last week and remains in jail, filed a motion Sunday claiming his $500,000 bond is excessive. The request said the man poses no threat to the community and has friends and relatives who want to help pay his bail.