Trial continues in Wicomico County for convicted murderer Paul Tatem

Today marks day three in the trial of accused murderer Paul Tatem. He has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, stemming from the murder of 72-year-old Donald Mariner in April 2014.

The trial is expected to wrap up late Wednesday night.

Tatem’s ex-girlfriend, Angel Brown, took the stand Wednesday morning. She testified that the two broke up because Tatem stole money from her on more than one occasion.

On the night of the alleged murder in April, Brown says Tatem admitted to her that he went to a house to tie an elderly man up. She testifies that Brown told her that he ended up beating his roommate, who he did not realize was there.

However, investigators testified later that Tatem claimed he got all of the information he told Brown from a news report about a home invasion at Mariner’s residence. They also said that Tatem claimed his friend Brian was acting suspicious the night of the alleged murder, saying he “had something to take care of.”

Yet when Brian was called to the stand on Wednesday, his involvement in Mariner’s murder was not addressed.

Tatem also waived his right to take the stand to testify.

On Tuesday, a forensic technician revealed that Brown’s DNA was found on a key used to get into Mariner’s home. When asked about that today, Brown said repeatedly, she did not know how her DNA wound up on that key.