Crime and Courts

Trial begins for woman accused of pulling gun at Bozeman mediation hearing

Posted: Feb 26, 2013 5:47 PM by Erin Schattauer

BOZEMAN - The trial began today for a Kentucky woman accused of threatening people with a gun at a mediation hearing in April 2012.

Jury selection wrapped up and testimony got underway at the jury trial for Mary McCulley who is charged with assault with a weapon in the case.

Two men who were in the conference room at American Land and Title Company for the mediation hearing in a civil case that day took the stand.

The men say they were sitting in the conference room on April 25 when McCulley walked into the room, slammed two documents on the table and told them that was her final offer and they were going to sign it. One of the men said that McCulley's finger was on the trigger and he believes she would have shot him that day.

The men grabbed McCulley and wrestled the gun away from her, they said. They say they had to physically pull the gun out of her hand. During the struggle, they say McCulley kept repeating that the gun was not loaded, but when they examined it, they learned that it was.

"I think she would've pulled that trigger," one of the men said. "She never loosened her grip on that gun."

During the struggle, one of the men says McCulley bit him on his forearm and knuckle.

The trial is being held before Judge Mike Salvagni in Gallatin County District Court. It is scheduled to run for three days.