WAUKESHA, Wis. – Mark Chmura chose not to testify in his
sexual assault trial after his lawyer told him there was no need to
because the case has gone so well.
|  | | Lynda Chmura, wife of Mark Chmura, testifies at his sexual assault trial Friday. |
Defense attorney Gerald Boyle rested his case Friday, telling
Judge Mark Gempeler he told the former Green Bay Packers tight end
not to take the stand.
"Things fell the way we thought they would," Boyle told
Gempeler.
"Your decision is you do not wish to take the stand?" Gempeler
asked Chmura.
"Yes, that is true, your honor," Chmura replied, the first
time he has spoken in court during his nine-day trial. Closing
arguments were expected Saturday afternoon.
A teen-ager who used to baby sit for Chmura's two sons told
police Chmura pulled her into a bathroom during an April 9
post-prom party at his friend Robert Gessert's Hartland home,
pulled down her pants and had sex with her without her consent.
Chmura is charged with third-degree sexual assault and child
enticement, both felonies. He could face up to 40 years in prison
and $20,000 in fines if convicted.
His accuser has testified the former NFL star called her
jailbait, asked her about the length of legs and gave her a $20 tip
for being cute when she watched his children.
Chmura's wife, Lynda, testified Friday she has never heard her
husband refer to a woman's body in a demeaning way.
"Mark doesn't make comments like that, especially to young
girls," she testified.
Chmura's accuser also has said she disliked him because she
heard he fathered a child with another baby sitter.
"Absolutely not," Mrs. Chmura said.
"Your marriage is solid?" Boyle asked.
"As a rock," Mrs. Chmura replied. "I know the truth about my
husband and I love him very much."
Chmura remained expressionless throughout his wife's testimony.
Chmura, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, joined the Packers in
1992. He appeared in two Super Bowls with Green Bay, but missed
most of the 1999 season with a neck injury. The team cut him in
June.
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AUDIO/VIDEO
 Defense Attorney Gerald Boyle puts Lynda Chmura on the stand in her husband's sexual assault trial.
RealVideo: 28.8
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