An interview with Michelle Theer: 'Night falls–and death beckons'
Q. But the cops say you made this call as you are leaving the restaurant a couple hours later, as a signal to Diamond that your party was heading back to Fayetteville?
A. They say that. They say that later because that's when they want it, because that's what fits their theory.
Q. This is a big discrepancy between you calling at 6:30 or [three hours later]?
A. Yes.
Q. Diamond claimed that you were the shooter.
A. Right.
Q. How do you feel hearing something like that?
A. I was shocked.
Q. Do you know how to fire a gun? Have you ever fired a gun?
A. Uh-huh. I fired an M-16 two times.
Q. In the Air Force?
A. Yeah. . . Once in basic training, and once out at the Air Force Academy, I guess to prove that I was current.
Q. Have you ever fired a handgun?
A. Never, uh-uh.
Q. Do you think John Diamond killed your husband?
A. I do now. . . .
Q. Why do you think he did it?
A. Why do I think he did it? I don't know. . . I don't think there is a pat answer.
Q. John Diamond's proffer [his military attorney's offer of testimony to civilian prosecutors] puts it right on you. He said you had told him at Zorba's to meet you at your office at 11 p.m., and he got there, and that, as he approached, he saw this man on the ground, and he said that you had shot him, you were wearing latex gloves. Is this all fantasy?
A. Uh-huh.
Q. You are telling me he was obsessed with you–that you were trying to break it off, you weren't very successful. Why did he do it?
A. I think he just thought it was an easy solution to the problem, to what he saw as being in the way of our relationship. I told him that there [were] other obstacles. As a matter of fact, I remember, in one of the E-mails I listed numerous things, numerous reasons why we could not be together, and I very purposely did not include my husband as being one of those reasons because I knew that he wouldn't buy [that] as an argument, anyway, and I knew he would just say, though, you love me more than him, anyway, or, you know, I am better than he is, anyway. I knew that he would discount that. . . I gave him other, solid concrete reasons.
Q. Which were?
A. I don't even know that I can remember now. That E-mail was included in the evidence. . . . I was hoping that the jury would notice that I didn't say, my husband, the reason I can't be with you, because that would be something that you would think would be manipulative, saying I can't be with you because I have a husband. I can't be with you because I love him more than you. If he weren't around, then we could be together. But, no, I never said anything remotely like that. I gave him all the other reasons.
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