ALFRED — A York County Superior Court jury will begin deliberations today in the murder trial of Darlene George and her brother, Jeffrey Williams. Jurors must decide whether or not the two took part in the murder of Darlene George’s husband, Winston George.

Winston George was found dead of asphyxiation in the basement of his Old Orchard Beach home June 20, 2008, tied up with a plastic bag over his head and a liquor bottle shoved in his mouth.

“The case is, pure and simple, about greed,” said Assistant Attorney General Lisa Marchese. She said that Darlene George did not want to lose her properties, and she did not want anyone else to have her husband.

“Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned,” said Marchese in her closing argument Thursday, adding that Darlene George is a woman “not to be crossed.”

The prosecution’s case is supported by testimony from Rennie Cassimy, who testified last week that he and Darlene George had been lovers for many years. Cassimy said Darlene George wanted to be the sole owner of the five properties she owned with her husband, and she was upset that Winston George was having a relationship with a coworker.

Cassimy stated that he, Williams and George planned a scheme to murder Winston George and make it look like a home invasion.

Cassimy said Darlene George paid for the two men to come to Old Orchard Beach, and he stood watch while Williams committed the murder. He claimed he did not participate in the murder of Winston George.

Defense Attorney Paul Aranson disputed the argument that there was a financial motive. He said there was no equity in the five properties the Georges owned and that Darlene George stood to get about $73,000 in life insurance and a 401K from her husband.

“There’s no financial motive in this case whatsoever,” said Aranson.

Aranson said that Darlene George was a very generous and giving person, referring to testimony from a coworker who referred to her as motherly and pointing out that her son, Giovanni Whiteman, who took the stand last week, was a smart, articulate, well-behaved teenager.

Aranson said Cassimy, who said on the stand that he was a gigolo and had many lovers over the years, did not need Darlene George for sex. Aranson said Cassimy was a user and took advantage of Darlene George’s generous nature.

Aranson said Darlene George, being a generous person, helped Cassimy out with his diet, bought him clothing and helped him read.

Darlene George did not take the stand. She said in testimony before a grand jury in 2008 three intruders whom she did not recognize were in her home the night of Winston George’s murder.

Both Aranson and Joel Vincent, attorney for Jeffrey Williams, pointed out that Cassimy’s stories had inconsistencies.

“It’s easy to remember the truth, and difficult to remember a lie,” said Vincent.

Both Aranson and Vincent said Cassimy fabricated a story so that he could get a plea deal.

Cassimy pleaded guilty in January to conspiracy to commit murder. As a result, an earlier charge of murder was dropped. As part of the plea deal, he is asking for an eight-year jail sentence.

“He plead guilty to conspiracy and got a sweetheart deal,” said Aranson.

“He knew what he needed to say to secure his deal,” said Vincent.

Earlier this week, Vincent referenced cell phone calls made between Darlene George and her brother in June 2008 when Cassimy said he and Darlene George had gone to Brooklyn, picking Williams up along the way in Long Island, N.Y. The locations in which the calls Cassimy claimed took place were inconsistent with the locations shown by phone records.

Cassimy is lousy with dates and times, said Marchese, but he is a credible witness.

Footage from a Concord Trailways security camera, as well as bus records and testimony from a local cab company and restaurant employees, showed that Williams and Cassimy came into Maine on June 19 and left the morning of June 20.

Williams testified that he went to Maine with Cassimy to help his sister work on her house. He said Darlene George dropped him and Cassimy off at a motel in Old Orchard Beach and said she had some “running around” to do.

“I started to get a little agitated. I didn’t want to be in a hotel,” he said.

Williams said that Cassimy stepped out of the hotel room to make a phone call, and came back to say that he was going to leave to visit a friend and something came up, and George would see them the next day. Williams said Cassimy left while he stayed in the motel room and drank beer. Williams said he did not call his sister because he didn’t want to cause an argument between the two of them.

He said the next morning, he decided to go back to New York.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.