A Livingston County jury convicted Clifford Brewer of murder late Tuesday afternoon in the 2019 deaths of his wife, son and neighbor in the couple’s home in Cullom.
Brewer, 55, denied killing Shirley Brewer, 48; his son Christian Brewer, 27; and his neighbor Norman Walker, 51. The three victims were found with single gunshot wounds to their heads.
Livingston County Assistant State’s Attorney Mike Regnier argued during the six-day trial that Brewer killed the three victims on Christmas Day 2019 and then called police. Authorities found no signs of forced entry to the house, the state and defense agreed.
Defense lawyer Stephen Richards told jurors Shirley Brewer was depressed and upset when she fatally wounded her son and planned to kill herself. After a confrontation with Walker, she struggled with her husband who woke up during the disturbance, said Richards.
The defendant’s wife was killed during the struggle to stop her and the neighbor died after another bullet was fired by the woman — intentionally or accidentally — as she was lying down or falling, Richard argued to jurors.
Brewer faces life in prison when he is sentenced Oct. 5
