SPOKANE, Wash. – The trial for a Spokane Valley woman accused of plotting to kill her husband for insurance money has begun.
Attorneys gave their opening statements Tuesday and several investigators took the stand to testify about the murder-for-hire plot they uncovered.
Martie Soderberg is charged with attempted first-degree murder and solicitation to commit first-degree murder. In October of 2016, prosecutors said Soderberg reconnected with an old friend from high school through Facebook and tried to get him to kill her husband, but instead he went to law enforcement. The friend agreed to wear a wire so detectives could listen to their conversations.
In court, they showed video of the two meeting up in a parking lot to talk about ways to kill her husband. One idea was to kill him while out trick or treating with their kids. Prosecutors also played the audio of Soderberg talking about killing her husband.
On the recording Soderberg said, "Honestly, I don't have a conscience. I wish I kind of did, but I don't. It's sad. Trust me, if I knew I could get away with it, it would already be f****** done."
In the recordings, the man who said the two discussed how to get a gun and ways to make sure no one could trace it back to them.
Her attorney referenced the recording in opening statement, telling the jury to focus on the actions of Soderberg's friend who reported the murder-for-hire plot to detectives.
“Tapes are going to be horrifying, there's no other way to put it, those tapes are difficult for me, for Mr. Maxwell to listen to them, but listen to them in a critical way, who is constantly bringing up this plan when they’re together,” Defense Attorney Tracy Scott Collins said.
The friend Soderberg is accused of trying to hire also took the stand Tuesday afternoon. He said he believed Soderberg was extremely serious about killing her husband.
This trial is not expected to take very long. The prosecution only has two more witnesses to call. The defense said they will talk to Soderberg Monday night to decide if she will testify. Closing arguments could happen as early as Wednesday afternoon.