Mother Says She Helped Son Intimidate Witnesses

After an emotional outburst, Beverlee Sue Merriman reversed herself and pleaded guilty Friday to two counts of conspiracy for helping her 27-year-old son intimidate witnesses in his pending murder case.

Merriman, 52, admitted that she arranged jail visits and mailed letters to help Justin Merriman discourage witnesses from testifying against him.

Her sudden plea change in the middle of trial came a day after she broke down in court, wailing uncontrollably after reading a transcript in which her son admits he has been implicated in the 1992 slaying of 20-year-old Katrina Montgomery.

Until reading the transcript, defense lawyers said, Beverlee Sue Merriman didn’t believe her son could have killed Montgomery. Prosecutors had sought to admit the transcript, detailing a Dec. 9, 1998, tape-recorded jail conversation between Justin Merriman and an informant, Thursday afternoon during Beverlee Sue Merriman’s trial.

Defense attorneys objected and a hearing was held outside the presence of the jury. During the hearing, Merriman reviewed a transcript of her son’s statements and broke into tears. According to prosecutors, Justin told the informant: “I’m trapped. I’m done on this case. But I don’t want my mom to get in trouble.”

“She broke down and started crying and was very emotional in court--to the point we had to cancel the proceedings for the day,” Deputy Dist. Atty. Ron Bamieh said.

Beverlee Sue Merriman returned to court Friday morning and her lawyers said she wanted to change her plea, Bamieh said. Fighting tears, she admitted conspiring with her son to induce false testimony from witnesses, and conspiring to discourage witnesses by force or threat.