Woman admits to affair with accused killer

CLEVELAND - A woman testifying in the murder trial of a Cleveland doctor accused of killing his wife admitted she had an affair with the doctor, but said she had nothing to do with the death of his wife.

Marguerita Montanez took the stand Thursday and denied she had anything to do with the poisoning of Dr. Yazeed Essa's wife, Rosemarie Essa. Defense attorneys for Dr. Essa are trying to link her to the crime.

Although Montanez admitted to having an affair with Dr. Essa, she testified that the affair was over prior to Rosemarie's death -- and that she and the doctor were only friends at the time.

Police said Essa put cyanide into his wife's calcium pills. On Wednesday, Detective Gary McKee with the Highland Heights Police Department said there was enough cyanide in Rosemarie Essa’s body to kill nine people. He said he was able to rule out suicide during his investigation because she had not sought treatment for mental health issues and she wanted more children. The detective also said he could rule out product tampering.

Throughout McKee’s testimony, the defense tried to poke holes in the police investigation. Defense attorney Steven Bradley asked why detectives didn’t wear gloves while handling the calcium pills.

McKee did admit that he could find no direct link between Yazeed Essa and the calcium pills.

Montanez's testimony is continues Thursday afternoon.