Rudin trial: Conflicting accounts of slain husband presented

Kim Smith

Friday, March 9, 2001 | 11:06 a.m.

Defense attorney Michael Amador told jurors during his opening statements in the Margaret Rudin murder trial that Ronald Rudin was a tough guy, a volatile man who always wore at least two guns and dressed in black to send a message.

On Thursday Ronald Rudin's longtime bookkeeper told jurors her boss could be a "soft and sensitive" man who gave his employees thousands of dollars in loans and cared for his wife.

Sharon Melton said that just like anyone else, Ronald Rudin sometimes yelled and criticized others.

Melton also said she never saw him wear a weapon to work, and he only wore black three times in the nine years she knew him. She also denied ever seeing him wearing a bulletproof vest.

Thursday was the fifth day in Margaret Rudin's trial, which is expected to continue four to six weeks. The jurors have today off.

Prosecutors Chris Owens and Gary Guymon say Rudin killed her husband on the evening of Dec. 18, 1994, so she could inherit 60 percent of his estate, estimated to be between $8 million and $11 million. They also contend she was in a jealous rage after discovering his latest affair.

Ronald Rudin's bullet-riddled skull was found near Nelson's Landing on Lake Mohave on Jan. 21, 1995, along with some charred remains.

Amador told jurors he intends to prove that Ronald Rudin, a real estate developer, was involved in shady land deals and was killed at the behest of his trustees, who were also beneficiaries.

Amador kept Melton on the stand all day Thursday. He grilled her on subjects ranging from her feelings for Margaret Rudin to her recall of events to her boss's business dealings.

Melton told jurors she last saw her boss at 2 p.m. on the day police suspect he died. He came by her antique store and they discussed making a crucial loan payment the next morning.

The last thing he told her, Melton said, was, "I'll see you in the morning."

The normally punctual Ronald Rudin, however, didn't show up for work the following day and no one could locate him.

Melton said as she and another employee stood outside his Charleston Boulevard office she heard what sounded like a series of gunshots coming from an area near the Rudin home behind the office.

"I told Jill to get in my car. Let's get out of here, she will shoot us," Melton said.

Amador said the gun that killed Ronald Rudin included a silencer.

"I'm not saying that was the time he was murdered," Melton said. "All I'm telling you is what I thought I heard."

The defense attorney also noted that instead of going to the police, Melton and the co-worker drove to a doughnut shop down the street.

"Is that a local substation for the police?" Amador asked.

"Do you want an answer for that?" Melton asked, unruffled.

"No," Amador said with a smile.

Melton told Amador that when she first spoke to police about Rudin's disappearance she didn't tell them about the gunshots because it didn't occur to her it might prompt a quicker reaction.

"Are you serious?" Amador said, bursting out in laughter and prompting a scolding from District Judge Joseph Bonaventure.

"I didn't think it would make the police act quicker, I'm sorry," Melton said.

Melton testified that she didn't speak to Margaret Rudin until Jan. 19, two days before her boss's body was discovered. On that day, Rudin told her Ronald Rudin's body had been found and tests were being conducted on it.

Melton admitted she was angry with her boss when she discovered he had decided to lease space in the office complex to his wife for an antique store.

However, Melton -- herself an antique dealer -- denied she was jealous.

"I felt she was evil and dangerous, and I didn't want her that close," Melton said.

The bookkeeper acknowledged she has rarely turned down media interviews and has appeared on such shows as "Hard Copy," " Inside Edition" and "America's Most Wanted."

Amador asked her if she had ever been compensated for her interviews.

"I never got paid by nobody for anything," Melton said emphatically.

"You don't have to get mad at me," Amador responded.

"I just want to make the record very clear," Melton said.

Melton also denied being coached on what to say or how to say it.

When asked by Amador if she loved Ronald Rudin in a platonic way, Melton said she considered him a friend. She denied that she would do anything for him.

Although Melton admitted she was concerned when she discovered some odd things on the books about Ronald Rudin's Lee Canyon property, she denied altering those records.

Melton said she had been concerned interest wasn't being reported to the IRS, but Ronald Rudin assured her he was reporting the interest and paying the taxes -- although the promissory notes were under ficticious names.

The bookkeeper acknowledged that she assisted the trustees' attorneys when Margaret Rudin tried to get her share of her husband's estate. When the case was settled and Rudin ended up getting more than $500,000, Melton said she was angry.

Ronald Rudin's directive told trustees they were to investigate his death -- if it were violent -- and cut the responsible parties out of his will, Melton said.

"I felt (the trustees) betrayed him. They didn't do what they were asked to do," Melton said.

"Until someone could be found guilty, and I don't mean just Margaret, I mean anyone, then nothing should have been done," Melton said.

The trial will continue at 9:30 a.m. Monday.