ATLANTA — A prominent Atlanta attorney accused in the death of his wife suggests that a well-known businessman actually planted a gun in his condo -- violating the terms of his bond.
Channel 2’s Richard Elliot was in the courtroom Tuesday afternoon when the revelation came to light.
James Hugh testified that he not only worked for Tex and Diane McIver, he also worked for Diane's employer, Billy Corey of Corey Industries.
Friends say Corey considered Diane McIver like a daughter and he kept her photo up on his downtown smokestack sign for months after her death.
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Tex McIver admitted he shot his wife in the back while riding in their SUV but called it a terrible accident.
After prosecutors charged him with felony involuntary manslaughter, he got out on bond.
But when investigators searched his home two weeks ago, they say they found a gun hidden in McIver’s sock drawer.
Bond hearing for Tex McIverWe'll have live coverage of the developments on Channel 2 Action News starting at 4. ------------- A judge is deciding whether to revoke bond for prominent attorney Tex McIver, who is accused of killing his wife: 2wsb.tv/2os0ROU
Posted by WSB-TV on Tuesday, April 25, 2017
He denies putting it there, and now his attorneys speculate that Corey, who they say was angry with McIver, arranged to put that weapon in the condo.
The judge asked Corey that question directly.
“Did you instruct anyone else to put a gun in Mr. McIver’s condo?” the judge asked Corey.
“No, no. I've never instructed anyone to put that gun in that,” Corey said.
Defense attorneys also showed that Hugh had full access to McIvers’ Buckhead condo and tried to suggest that Hugh, working at the behest of Corey, planted that weapon, which was something Hugh absolutely denied.
def atty: hrng set for today on motion by FultonDA’s office to revoke Tex Mciver’s bond based on allegation gun found in his condo @wsbtv
— Mark Winne (@MarkWinneWSB) April 21, 2017
“Did Corey ever ask you to put a gun in the sock drawer?” one of McIver’s attorneys asked Hugh.
“No,” Hugh answered.
Elliot said Tuesday's court hearing was supposed to be a simple bond revocation hearing but it will now enter its third day on Wednesday.
Cox Media Group