Eric McLean has been labeled as a good guy by his lawyers. He was a devoted husband. He was the type of guy that would play “mommy” to the kids so that his wife could finish school and get her career going before him. He was tolerant enough to see his 29 year old wife flaunt her relationship with an 18 year old boy around their town. He saw them kissing and if reports are true, he saw them having sex. After all this, he apparently did not hold enough ill will to want revenge. Instead, he never did anything irrational. He just bought a shotgun that he had planned to use for his suicide.
All bets were off though when Eric came home to his wife Erin in the home with Sean Powell, her lover. McLean told the boy to leave and when he wouldn’t go, McLean called 911. That night, March 10, 2007, changed things forever. That was the night that Eric McLean became a murderer. His wife was going to leave and take their sons with her and Powell. They laughed at him. They taunted him. And when Erin got out of Powell’s car to get something, the defendants claim that Powell shared some words that probably sealed his fate.
“In two weeks, they will be calling me `Daddy.’ “
McLean got the shotgun that was supposed to be for his suicide and a shot was fired that blew part of Powell’s face off. Still the question remains, is that really the way it happened? The defense calls it an accident, but McLean had to get his gun, so I don’t know that it was as cut and dry as they want to claim. Passion is a funny motive, but it is one used a lot, especially when you’re wife doesn’t have the forethought to see how hot the fire is that she’s playing with.
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