Trial breaks for lunch with Tinsley on stand

The Crittenden Circuit Court trial of Pat Tinsley recessed for lunch at noon today. The trial, in its third day of testimony, is scheduled to continue this afternoon. Jurors will be back at 1 p.m.

The prosecution rested this morning following more testimony from Kentucky State Police Det. Scott Smith, who was lead investigator into the alleged arson and reckless homicide charges. Tinsley, 50, is accused of conspiring along with his wife to burn their home on Aug. 1, 2010 in order to collect the insurance money. Tinsley's wife, 47-year-old Glenda Tinsley, died in that fire at their two-story home on Wilson Farm Road.

Attorney Don Thomas started presenting the defendant's side of the case around 11 a.m. Tinsley himself was called to the stand first and spent about an hour testifying before lunch break. Tinsley told the jury he was not broke as alleged by the prosecution's case. He said he was confused and made some inaccurate statements during a three-and-one-half-hour taped interview with state police on Oct. 7, 2010. Those statements are the central evidence in the state's case. He said detectives conducting the interview never read him his Miranda rights before the questioning. He testified that they threatened to charge him with murder and arson if he didn't cooperate and tell them what they wanted to hear.

The defense has about 10 witnesses to call this afternoon. There is a chance the jury could get the case this evening. If it goes longer than today, the trial will resume next Friday, Oct. 7.