ALFRED — An Old Orchard Beach woman recruited her lover and her brother to kill her husband in June 2008 because her marriage had unraveled, a prosecutor told jurors today during opening arguments of a murder trial at York County Superior Court.

But Darlene George’s lawyer said that while she may have been unhappy in her six-year marriage to Winston George, the marriage was not unraveling and she did not plan his murder.

Additional Photos

In this March 2009 photo, Darlene George of Old Orchard Beach appears in York County Superior Court after being charged in connection with the murder of her husband Winston George. Murder Domestic Violence Press Herald file photo

Darlene George and her brother Jeffrey Williams are charged with the murder of 45-year-old Winston George.

Rennie Cassimy, who says he was having an affair with Darlene George, has already pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder, and he is expected to be a key witness for the state.

“Why did Winston George have to die?” said Assistant Attorney General Leane Zainea. “It boils down to this: infidelity.”

10:07 a.m.

ALFRED — The murder trial of a brother and sister who are charged with killing the woman’s husband in Maine two years ago is getting under way.

Opening arguments were scheduled Monday in York County Superior Court in the trial of Darlene George of Old Orchard Beach and her brother, Jeffrey Williams, of New York.

Prosecutors say George, Williams and another man killed 44-year-old Winston George on June 20, 2008. The third suspect, Rennie Cassimy of New York, has pleaded guilty to lesser charge and will testify at the trial.

Police say Darlene George and Cassimy had a long affair, and that the suspects conspired to kill Winston George and make it look like a home invasion by strangers.

According to court documents, Darlene George stood to benefit from a $70,000 life insurance policy.

Related Stories