Defense begins calling witnesses in Boxley murder trial
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MARQUETTE -- The prosecution called their last witness in the Julie Boxley trial on Monday and the defense began calling their witnesses. Boxley is charged with felony murder and 1st degree arson and is accused of intentionally setting fire to the Ishpeming home of Glenn Andrews on March 5, 2023. Andrews died on March 19 due to injuries related to the fire.
The prosecution called their last witness, Jason Niemi, on Monday. Niemi is the landlord for 175 Silver St., the house in which Glenn Andrews and Julie Boxley lived at the time of the fire. Niemi testified as to electrical updates which he had completed to the kitchen and first floor bathroom of the home.
Niemi is an electrical contractor with Niemi Electric, as well as a landlord.
Niemi also testified that, while 175 Silver St. had been outfitted with smoke detectors upon Andrews' moving in, Niemi had never inspected those detectors during the 7 years Andrews lived at the property. Niemi also testified that the home had been insured and that after the fire he had received a settlement for approximately $250,000.
After the jury was dismissed for a short break, defense attorneys argued that Boxley should be acquitted due to evidence insufficient to sustain a murder or arson conviction. Defense attorneys presented that the mode of death had been indeterminate and the cause of the fire was undetermined.
Prosecution argued that circumstantial evidence such as Boxley's lack of injuries and inconsistencies in her story allowed for reasonable inferences to be drawn. Marquette County Circuit Judge Andrew Griffin sided with prosecution, stating that there is sufficient evidence to support both the felony murder and arson charges. The case continued.
After the jury returned, defense began calling witnesses, including an electrical engineer working in investigative forensics, three locals working in insurance and two local heavy equipment operators.
Bradley Davis, an electrical engineer working in investigative forensics from Columbus, Ohio, was called by the defense to testify about his impression of the fire investigation which was conducted at 175 Silver St. in March 2023.
Davis was asked by the defense to complete a data review of the investigation, which Davis referred to as "woefully insufficient," testifying that he did not believe the investigation was sufficient enough to rule out electrical causes of the fire.
The defense also called Julie Cygan, Carol Bray and Megan Gauthier, three people employed by local insurance agencies. Gauthier, who works for Gauthier Insurance in Ishpeming, testified that Boxley had had renters' insurance at 175 Silver St. but that her coverage had lapsed as of September 2022, several months before the fire.
The defense also called James Albright and Jack Cran to testify. Both Albright and Cran were heavy equipment operators with Oberstar on March 13, 2023, the day that the fire inspectors brought out heavy equipment to excavate 175 Silver St.
Both Albright and Cran testified that they could not recall any dangers related to excavating down into the house's basement, but that they had not been instructed to do so. Earlier testimony by Niemi had indicated that the electrical panel had been located in the basement.
The case is expected to continue through the week.
Annie Lippert can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 550. Her email address is alippert@miningjournal.net.