Direct+Examination+of+Paula

Attorney: Would you please introduce yourself to the court. Paula: My name is Paula Thrombold, I am 41-years-old. I am currently employed with Smith, Krane, & Gregg, as a designer. (pages 26-31)

Attorney: What was your relationship to Gavin Wright? Paula: We have been married for 8 years. (page 27 line 42)

Attorney: For how long did you know Gavin before you were married? Paula: 5 months. (page 27 line 42)

Attorney: What first attracted you to Gavin? Paula: He was a good-looking successful restaurant owner, in the beginning, he showered me with gifts and attention, I thought we were perfect for each other. (page 26 line 11)

Attorney: When did things change between you and Gavin? Paula: A few months after the wedding, when he refused to allow me to decorate the house, I realized that he never intended to let me have any opinion on the house or make any changes. (page 27 line 50)

Attorney: Are there any other ways in which Gavin took control of the relationship? Paula: He was furious when I told him I had already established myself as a successful business owner and designer and did not want to create any confusion by changing my last name. This was right before the wedding. He told me I was making a mockery of the whole situation and was making a fool of him by refusing his last name. In the end he allowed me to keep my last name, Thrombold, if my name was not on any of our joint bank accounts or representations. (page 26 line 27)

Attorney: As you are an interior designer, why did you not make any changes to the house after you moved in like you had planned? Paula: A few months after the wedding, when Gavin refused to let me make any changes to HIS house, even though I made it clear before the wedding I would only move into his house if he allowed me to make changes, I realized he only agreed to me making changes to get me to move in and never had intentions of allowing me to touch any of the decorations.

Attorney: Did Gavin have any other control in your life? Paula: After things settled down a while after the wedding, Gavin began buying me all kinds of gifts; clothes, and jewelry. I felt flattered until he started telling me what to wear and when to wear it, sometimes, when I would tell him I wanted to wear something else, he would throw a fit. I learned quickly to just wear what he told me without arguing. (page 27 line 61)

Attorney: Did you ever choose your own outfit? Paula: Occasionally, when Gavin wasn't home to lay out an outfit for me I would chose my own clothes. But I was petrified he would come home and disprove of what I had chosen. (page 27 line 60)

Attorney: When did you first suffer physical abuse form Gavin? Paula: One night, after a very important meeting, I had to rush home because I knew Gavin would be waiting for me, angry due to the events earlier in the day. (page 27 line 75)

Attorney: what happened earlier that day? Paula: I was running late for my meeting by the time Gavin got home. As soon as he walked in the door I could tell he did not approve of the sun dress and sandals i had chosen to wear to the meeting. (page 27 line 70)

Attorney: What happened when you got home? Paula: He was waiting for me, as I had expected. He told me I looked like a slut in my little sun dress and questioned my whereabouts of the evening, insinuating he didn't trust me. I tried to reassure him of my love for him, that I would never cheat on him, but he just ripped the strap off my dress and laughed. When he saw how shocked I was, he shoved me so hard I fell backward and hit my head against the wall. (page 27 lines 76-82)

Attorney: After this event, did Gavin hit you often? Paula: Things were okay for a few months after that, until he started pestering me about selling my share of Dust Bowl designs. (page 27 line 47)

Attorney: Why did Gavin want you to leave your business? Paula: He saw them as the root of our marital problems. (page 27 line 44)

Attorney: Can you explain the Assault charges you filed against Gavin in 2002? Paula: Yes. Things would go pretty well for a couple months and then Gavin and I would have an argument. (page 27)

Attorney: What were these arguments normally about? Paula: Different things, I wanted to see a therapist to work out our problems but he flatly refused, not wanting to discuss private problems with strangers, according to him, we didn't even need a therapist, I just needed to be a better wife. One time he accused me of flirting with one of his co-workers at a party but I tried to tell him I was just being a good hostess, he didn't like this answer and that is the night I filed a complaint against him. (page 28 line 107)

Attorney: What happened that night? Paula: He was so angry with me and when I refused to apologize he punched me so hard I doubled over. He pulled my hair up to face him but I could not stand, when I collapsed to the floor, he kicked me so hard, the pain was excruciating. (page 28 line 114)

Attorney: Why did you repeal the complaint? Paula: He apologized profusely and seemed to feel more guilty than ever and was so gentle with me the next couple weeks and bought me beautiful presents to make up for it. (page 28 line 124)

Attorney: Did he ever beat you again? Paula: Occasionally, but never that bad again. We could go weeks or months with things great but he would eventually just snap and I would pay the price. (page 28 line 28)

Attorney: Can you explain the gun he kept in the house? Paula: Yes. Christmas 2003, he told me he had bought himself a present and asked if I would watch him open it. As I sat under the tree, he unwrapped a new gun, he told me I better behave because Santa was coming to town. I was horrified. (page 29 line 165)

Attorney: I see. Can you explain to me the events of November 25, 2004 please? Paula: Yes. Gavin gave me strict instructions to be home no later than 5:30 to receive a package he had ordered. I thought I would be able to make it home in time but I didn't return to the house until 5:40. I called the delivery agency and the manufacturer, both were closed for the weekend. I knew how important this was to Gavin and I was afraid to think how he would react. When I called Cowboy Grill to apologize Gavin, who I could tell had been drinking again, he was furious. He rushed home, and I knew he was in a hurry because he didn't even bother to close the garage door. I nervously watched as he downed a glass of wine, dreading what he was going to do to me. I ran upstairs, when he ordered me too, and I locked the door. I ran straight to the gun and got to it just as Gavin's footsteps came pounding up the steps. He started banging on the door, demanding i open it. I refused and he started laughing while he picked the lock. He stepped through the door and starting walking towards me. I fired the gun and missed. He was not phased, I fired again and hit him in the shoulder. He was slowed, but was still coming at me. I was begging for my life when I did the last thing I could to save myself, I closed my eyes and pulled the trigger. When I opened my eyes I saw Gavin lying face down in the closet. He didn't answer when I called his name and I began to sob. I lost track of time until I heard the sirens coming down the street. I was taken into custody and don't remember much else except that Bailey was at the sheriff's station. (pages 30 - 31 lines 178-216)