Witness testimony has wrapped up in the jury trial of a Salem woman facing murder charges in Marion County Circuit Court.
Thirty-year-old Christina Bartley is accused of first-degree murder in connection with the April 2021 shooting death of her boyfriend, Wesley Bivens, which reportedly occurred during an argument at the couple’s home on Miles Lane in rural Salem. Bartley acknowledged to law enforcement that she shot Bivens, but has contended that she acted in self-defense.
Dr. Shiping Bao, who conducted Bivens’ autopsy, told jurors that Bivens was shot five times and that the fatal gunshot entered and exited Bivens’ right forearm, then entered his chest, where it struck his lung, causing the lung to collapse and resulting in internal bleeding. Bao was the final witness called by State’s Attorney Tim Hudspeth.
Following Bao’s testimony, Bartley’s attorney, Matthew Wilzbach, moved for a directed verdict, but that motion was denied by Judge Mark Stedelin.
Wilzbach then called several witnesses to the stand, including Bartley’s mother, Lisa, who described her daughter as a hard worker who bought a home by herself when she was 22 years old. The court also heard from Kelsey Pepos, who is an ex-girlfriend of Bivens’ and the mother of his son. Pepos testified about previous arguments she had had with Bivens and said she at one point had sought an order of protection against him, but on cross-examination, she said the two later resumed a cordial relationship.
After Pepos testified, Wilzbach informed the court that he had no additional witnesses, but needed to coordinate with Hudspeth about information to which the parties would be stipulating. At that point, Judge Stedelin called for a recess in the trial until 9 a.m. Thursday.
If convicted on the first-degree murder charge, Bartley faces a prison term ranging from 20 to 60 years.
