Lawyers say daughter killed herself, 8 siblings

Associated Press/May 13, 2004

Fresno -- Attorneys for a man accused of killing nine of his children filed a motion Wednesday to dismiss the murder charges because they say evidence pointed to his eldest daughter killing the eight children before committing suicide.

Marcus Wesson's attorneys said 25-year-old Sebhrenah Wesson died last because her body was on top of the pile of dead children and that the gun used as the murder weapon and a knife were found under her body. They also said Sebhrenah's wound was "consistent with suicide."

"There is no rational basis to believe that (Marcus) Wesson murdered these nine people," attorneys Peter Jones and Garrick Byers argued. "His daughter Sebhrenah murdered eight people, and then she killed herself."

Wesson, 57, has been charged with nine counts of murder and 13 counts of sexual assault. The motion Wednesday did not address the sexual assault charges.