Defense rests in trial of Pulse gunman’s widow; she didn’t testify

Noor Salman’s defense rested its case Tuesday in the trial of Pulse gunman Omar Mateen’s widow, after calling an expert who testified that Salman is “very vulnerable and at much higher risk than the average person” to give a false confession.

Salman, 31, did not testify during her trial. Jurors will hear closing arguments today, which will likely last into the afternoon, and then begin deliberating whether Salman should be found guilty of obstruction of justice and of aiding and abetting her husband, who gunned down 49 people in the gay club almost two years ago.

“I believe in our jury,” said Fritz Scheller, one of Salman’s defense attorneys. “It’s been a long road, but it’s been a very good road.”

The only witness to take the stand Tuesday was Dr. Bruce Frumkin, a Miamibased forensic and clinical psychologist who studies false confessions to law enforcement. He evaluated Salman last summer and on Tuesday said she is “really extreme, particularly under pressure, in yielding to misleading information.”

“She’s certainly not a really bright person,” Frumkin said.

Frumkin also testified that sleep deprivation can contribute to a person’s susceptibility to giving a false confession. Salman was with law enforcement from just after 4:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on the day of the massacre.

Frumkin’s testimony was expected to be a key element of Salman’s defense, which has sought to undermine statements Salman gave to the FBI the day of the shooting.

Last week FBI Special Agent Ricardo Enriquez testified that Salman admitted to knowing her husband was preparing for an attack and said Mateen asked her questions like, “how bad would it be if a club got attacked?”

Her defense lawyers contend the confession was coerced.

Scheller comforted Salman during a break in Frumkin’s testimony, putting his arm around her shoulders and squeezing her after Frumkin testified about her intelligence.