Jury Hears From Witnesses In Downtown Tulsa High-Rise Death

A jury began hearing from witnesses in the trial of Amber Hilberling, who is accused of pushing her husband from a 25th-floor window to his death.

Wednesday, March 13th 2013, 6:44 pm

By: Emory Bryan

Jury Hears From Witnesses In Downtown Tulsa High-Rise Death

A Tulsa County jury on Wednesday began hearing from witnesses in the trial of a woman accused of pushing her husband out of a high-rise apartment window to his death.

Amber Hilberling, 22, is charged with second-degree murder in the June 2012 death of Joshua Hilberling, 23. He went out a 25th-floor window at the University Club Apartments and landed on top of the eighth-floor parking garage.

Amber Hilberling rejected a plea deal last week that would have given her no more than five years in prison minus time served. Jury selection began Monday and the trial began Wednesday morning. In Oklahoma, a second-degree murder conviction carries a punishment of no less than 10 years and up to life in prison.

Two witnesses testified they saw Joshua Hilberling come out the window face-first and upright. One said they saw Amber Hilberling looking out the window from down below.

That contradicts other statements.

A medic said Amber Hilberling told him she tried to grab her husband's foot, but he was too heavy. The medic said the defendant indicated she did shove Joshua Hilberling, but didn't "mean to kill" him.

A police detective testified Amber Hilberling told him the victim went out the window backward after being pushed. A maintenance worker took the stand and said Amber Hilberling talked to him immediately following the incident. He said he heard a short scuffle, heard glass breaking and ran into the room.

He said Amber Hilberling screamed to him, "I killed my husband."

According to Tulsa County court documents, Joshua Hilberling filed for an emergency protective order against his wife less than a month before his death, saying she hit him in the head with a lamp, a wound that required staples and stitches, and that she had been violent toward him several other times.

That protective order was dismissed two weeks later when the couple didn't show up to court.

Prior police reports from Alaska, where Joshua Hilberling had been stationed with the U.S. Air Force, also indicate the couple had a tumultuous relationship.

The trial is expected to run until next week.