Woman ordered to stand trial in husband’s death

Thursday, April 13, 2000 | 10:42 a.m.

Tulsa County Special Judge Clancy Smith said Wednesday that evidence against Patsy Jean Barbour was "in conflict." But he said it had to be evaluated at a preliminary hearing in a light favorable to the prosecution to decide if there was "probable cause" or a reason to believe the defendant was involved in the killing.

Barbour, 68, is charged with first-degree murder in the Feb. 12, 1980 shooting of Andrew "Mac" Barbour Jr. at the couple's Tulsa home.

Patsy Barbour was arrested at her Las Vegas home three days after the murder charge was filed in July 1999. Also known as Patsy Woofter and Patsy Hardesty, Barbour maintains she is innocent.

Smith rejected a defense motion to dismiss the murder charge.

In ordering a trial, he pointed to the testimony of Kariene Rimer, the ex-wife of the defendant's deceased son, Randy Hardesty. Rimer testified that she saw Hardesty give his mother a stolen, snub-nosed .38-caliber revolver two weeks before the killing.

A .38-caliber projectile was recovered from Barbour's head. No murder weapon was recovered.

Rimer said Hardesty also told her that the killer was a neighbor of the Barbours who was going to be paid by Patsy Barbour with diamonds.

Police Detective Chuck Haywood testified Wednesday that he has "nothing to substantiate" that allegation against the former neighbor, who denies any involvement.