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Prosecution wraps up case against Hansen
Defense scheduled to begin today
By Hillary Wundrow
Daily News staff writer
ROCKFORD - A mysterious man and a burgundy Jaguar spotted near the Roscoe Road bridge could be clues to Mary-Ann Clibbery's tragic and untimely death.
During the second day of the trial, witnesses for the prosecution testified about George Hansen's behavior, clothing and whereabouts on the days surrounding the murder.
Hansen, 64, is accused of killing Clibbery, who was his business partner.
The woman's bloody body was found at Al Zullo's Remodeling Specialists in Loves Park on the morning of Dec. 22. The prosecution claims Hansen bludgeoned Clibbery to death with a hammer.
Approximately 26 witnesses testified against Hansen on Wednesday. The defense is scheduled to begin its case today.
Clibbery's secretary, Phillis Harle, testified Wednesday that Hansen had asked for the toolbox behind Clibbery's desk the afternoon of her death.
Although Harle usually worked 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., she was asked if she would leave early on Dec. 21 to deliver some candy to the Machesney Park and Loves Park building departments.
Clibbery and Hansen were alone at the business when Harle left at 4:20 p.m. on Dec. 21.
Harle said, although the business partners seemed to be getting along that day, Clibbery mentioned she would be discussing financial matters with Hansen.
"She told me they were going to go over some accounts that day," Harle said.
During her testimony, Harle recalled that Hansen was wearing his usual brown "70s style" sweater when she left for the day.
Winnebago County Assistant State's Attorney Margie O'Connor then pulled out a brown sweater and black gloves and asked the witness if she recognized them.
Harle said yes, noting that Hansen had put his gloves on the counter that day.
Hansen's attorneys didn't dispute that Hansen had thrown the gloves, sweater and Clibbery's belongings in a garbage bag off the Roscoe Road bridge into the Rock River.
Worried he would be blamed for the murder, a scared Hansen got rid of the items, said Public Defender Frank Perri.
When cross-examined Wednesday, Harle said Hansen often blamed other employees for cost overruns and lost his temper with customers.
"It was always someone else's fault," Harle said.
Stacy Sheldon, a call center representative at First National Bank in Beloit, testified that Hansen had made ATM withdrawals at about 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 21 and early the next morning.
Other witnesses claimed to have seen a gray haired man near the Roscoe Road bridge the day after the murder.
Jim Webster, an employee with the Illinois Department of Transportation and a Winnebago County board member, was driving to work at 6:50 a.m. when he noticed a man with a creme colored parka near the Roscoe Road Bridge.
As Webster drove past Chicory Ridge subdivision, he saw a man standing outside a white SUV close to the guardrail.
"He was standing with a flashlight looking down into the river," Webster said.
Webster then slowed down, and said the man glanced back at him.
When cross-examined, Webster admitted he wasn't able to identify the man as Hansen until after he had seen a picture of him in the newspaper. Webster didn't tell police he believed the man to be Hansen until Sept. 1.
Witness Vicki Ackerman was driving to get her oil changed when she claims to have seen a gray haired man near the Rock River on Dec. 22.
She was traveling east on Roscoe Road towards Highway 251 when she noticed a man leaning over the railing.
"It was odd. It was cold that day," Ackerman said.
As Ackerman slowed down, she said the man starting running east towards Highway 251. The man then halted at the door of a red Jaguar parked in someone's driveway.
Witness Susan Beard, said it was unusual to see both Clibbery and Hansen's vehicles in the parking lot when she left from her job at Beaver Glass & Mirror Co., 4902 N 2nd St. Loves Park at 5:15 p.m. on Dec. 21.
"The two cars were there and the lights were on," Beard said.
Defense Attorney Frank Perri then asked the witness if anyone had broken into the glass business.
Beard said Beaver Glass & Mirror had been broke into three times during three years and she suspects the perpetrator is a former employee.
"It was somebody who knew our shop - we thought," Beard said.
When further questioned, Beard said different people from a neighboring motel stop by her business asking to use the phone or bathroom.
As Forensic Pathologist Mark Peters explained graphic pictures of Clibbery's lacerations. Several of her friends and relatives left the courtroom sobbing.
Peters said the wounds on her head indicate she was struck three to five times. Although Peters didn't confirm the murder weapon was a hammer, it said it was likely a small and relatively smooth object.
According to the autopsy, Clibbery was likely dead more than four hours but less than 24 hours when she was found.
By Hillary Wundrow
Daily News staff writer
ROCKFORD - A mysterious man and a burgundy Jaguar spotted near the Roscoe Road bridge could be clues to Mary-Ann Clibbery's tragic and untimely death.
During the second day of the trial, witnesses for the prosecution testified about George Hansen's behavior, clothing and whereabouts on the days surrounding the murder.
Hansen, 64, is accused of killing Clibbery, who was his business partner.
The woman's bloody body was found at Al Zullo's Remodeling Specialists in Loves Park on the morning of Dec. 22. The prosecution claims Hansen bludgeoned Clibbery to death with a hammer.
Approximately 26 witnesses testified against Hansen on Wednesday. The defense is scheduled to begin its case today.
Clibbery's secretary, Phillis Harle, testified Wednesday that Hansen had asked for the toolbox behind Clibbery's desk the afternoon of her death.
Although Harle usually worked 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., she was asked if she would leave early on Dec. 21 to deliver some candy to the Machesney Park and Loves Park building departments.
Clibbery and Hansen were alone at the business when Harle left at 4:20 p.m. on Dec. 21.
Harle said, although the business partners seemed to be getting along that day, Clibbery mentioned she would be discussing financial matters with Hansen.
"She told me they were going to go over some accounts that day," Harle said.
During her testimony, Harle recalled that Hansen was wearing his usual brown "70s style" sweater when she left for the day.
Winnebago County Assistant State's Attorney Margie O'Connor then pulled out a brown sweater and black gloves and asked the witness if she recognized them.
Harle said yes, noting that Hansen had put his gloves on the counter that day.
Hansen's attorneys didn't dispute that Hansen had thrown the gloves, sweater and Clibbery's belongings in a garbage bag off the Roscoe Road bridge into the Rock River.
Worried he would be blamed for the murder, a scared Hansen got rid of the items, said Public Defender Frank Perri.
When cross-examined Wednesday, Harle said Hansen often blamed other employees for cost overruns and lost his temper with customers.
"It was always someone else's fault," Harle said.
Stacy Sheldon, a call center representative at First National Bank in Beloit, testified that Hansen had made ATM withdrawals at about 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 21 and early the next morning.
Other witnesses claimed to have seen a gray haired man near the Roscoe Road bridge the day after the murder.
Jim Webster, an employee with the Illinois Department of Transportation and a Winnebago County board member, was driving to work at 6:50 a.m. when he noticed a man with a creme colored parka near the Roscoe Road Bridge.
As Webster drove past Chicory Ridge subdivision, he saw a man standing outside a white SUV close to the guardrail.
"He was standing with a flashlight looking down into the river," Webster said.
Webster then slowed down, and said the man glanced back at him.
When cross-examined, Webster admitted he wasn't able to identify the man as Hansen until after he had seen a picture of him in the newspaper. Webster didn't tell police he believed the man to be Hansen until Sept. 1.
Witness Vicki Ackerman was driving to get her oil changed when she claims to have seen a gray haired man near the Rock River on Dec. 22.
She was traveling east on Roscoe Road towards Highway 251 when she noticed a man leaning over the railing.
"It was odd. It was cold that day," Ackerman said.
As Ackerman slowed down, she said the man starting running east towards Highway 251. The man then halted at the door of a red Jaguar parked in someone's driveway.
Witness Susan Beard, said it was unusual to see both Clibbery and Hansen's vehicles in the parking lot when she left from her job at Beaver Glass & Mirror Co., 4902 N 2nd St. Loves Park at 5:15 p.m. on Dec. 21.
"The two cars were there and the lights were on," Beard said.
Defense Attorney Frank Perri then asked the witness if anyone had broken into the glass business.
Beard said Beaver Glass & Mirror had been broke into three times during three years and she suspects the perpetrator is a former employee.
"It was somebody who knew our shop - we thought," Beard said.
When further questioned, Beard said different people from a neighboring motel stop by her business asking to use the phone or bathroom.
As Forensic Pathologist Mark Peters explained graphic pictures of Clibbery's lacerations. Several of her friends and relatives left the courtroom sobbing.
Peters said the wounds on her head indicate she was struck three to five times. Although Peters didn't confirm the murder weapon was a hammer, it said it was likely a small and relatively smooth object.
According to the autopsy, Clibbery was likely dead more than four hours but less than 24 hours when she was found.
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