01242018 - News Article - Wife of accused takes witness stand in Portage murder trial, backs up claims about the couple's alarm system

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11182015 - Tiara Thomas OIDV Murder, Portage Indiana - Gary/Hammond Indiana Police Officer Kevin Campbell Charged With Murder

Wife of accused takes witness stand in Portage murder trial, backs up claims about the couple's alarm system
NWI Times
January 24, 2018
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/wife-of-accused-takes-witness-stand-in-portage-murder-trial/article_8ad1e899-7703-51d8-868f-1717a78e14bd.html

VALPARAISO — The wife of accused murderer Kevin Campbell told jurors Wednesday afternoon that the couple was placing dirty diapers outside the door of their Hobart home just hours before the murder of Tiara Thomas.

Alicia Campbell said one of their children was up sick.

Defense attorney Susan Severtson had said during opening arguments of the trial that the action by the couple explains why their home security system registered the doors opening and closing beginning at 3:30 a.m. on the day Thomas was shot and killed.

When Porter County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Matt Frost asked why she never mentioned the diaper story to an investigator, Alicia Campbell said she did at least once.

"I'm pretty sure he's aware," she said.

The testimony came as the defense kicked off its case in the trial of Kevin Campbell, 33, who is charged with murdering the 30-year-old Thomas on Nov. 18, 2015, at the Portage Park Place apartment she shared with her fiance and the three children she had with Campbell. Prosecutors have said the couple's relationship had deteriorated to the point of a "contentious breakup" and Campbell's child support obligation was increased to $1,400 a month shortly before the killing.

The accused will take the witness stand Thursday, according to his defense team.

Alicia Campbell played down the claims of financial problems.

"They wasn't as bad as everyone is making it seem," she said.

She held her ground after Frost questioned her about the couple being behind in their mortgage payments and having a vehicle repossessed during the period in question.

Alicia Campbell also denied a claim that she went with Kevin Campbell's brother the day after the killing to attempt to retrieve a bag Kevin had left beside or in a garbage can.

She said she turned into a park after getting lost while driving.

Alicia Campbell testified that she and Kevin Campbell were upset that Thomas would not let her three children attend the couple's wedding.

She also confirmed for Frost that she had invoked "marital privilege" when deciding not to talk to prosecutors as part of the investigation and that she learned of the option while doing research on her own.