Trial begins against Woodville man charged with shooting death of wife

SCOTTSBORO, Alabama (WAFF) – Opening arguments and testimony began Tuesday for a Woodville man accused of murdering his wife.

Investigators in Jackson County say James Guffey shot his wife, Rose Guffey, in the face in April 2021.

The prosecution called Chief Deputy Eric Woodall, who was head of the Jackson County Sheriff's Office's investigative division at the time of the crime, to the witness stand.

Woodall said investigators were called to the couple's Woodville home in April 2021 and found Rose Marie Guffey dead with a gunshot wound to the face.

Investigators secured an AR-15-like rifle at the crime scene as evidence.

Woodall and a forensic expert testified today that Rose Guffey's blood was found on the rifle.

He said James Guffey admitted to him during questioning that he and his wife had been drinking and arguing before the shooting.

The toxicologist told the jury on the witness stand that Rose Guffey's blood alcohol level at the time of her death was 0.17 percent.

A forensic firearms expert from the Alabama Department of Forensics, who was called as a witness, also described in detail the power of the large-caliber rifle used in Rose's death. He said only one shell casing was fired from the gun on the night of the shooting.

A forensic pathologist who took photographs of Rose's body during the autopsy led the jury through the photographs collected by the forensic science department.

The testimony is scheduled to continue on Wednesday at 8 a.m.

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