Prosecution rests in case of Visalia man accused of killing wife

VISALIA, Calif. (KFSN) -- A witness in the trial of a Visalia man who's accused of killing his wife testified he never had anything nice to say about the woman.

The suspect, Terry Geller, is accused of shooting his wife, Tena, seven years ago. The shot was fired through a closed bathroom door. Geller claims it was an accident.

The most damaging testimony on Friday came from Geller's former supervisor, who described him as an opinionated, redneck, who always used foul language when talking about his wife.

Ted Phipps testified he was Terry Geller's Supervisor when the two worked together in a Tulare County maintenance shop. Phipps testified Geller never had a good word to say about his wife, and always referred to her as the "B-word."

"Basically anytime he spoke of her that was the name he used," said Phipps.

Phipps also recalled that Geller boasted loudly that he was having an affair with his wife's sister. And he remembered something chilling Geller said two years before his wife was killed.

"There was a statement made by Terry that his son had asked him what he wanted for Christmas, and what he stated was I would like to take your Mom and my .357 for a ride," said Phipps.

Terry's wife, Tena, was shot to death with Geller's .357 magnum revolver on Sept. 21, 2007. Police say it appeared she had been sitting on the toilet when a bullet went through the bathroom door and hit her in the chest.

Geller's former neighbor Gabriella Rodarte testified she heard the couple arguing earlier in the day, then later, a loud sound.

"What I thought was a firework, it was pretty loud," said Rodarte.

She testified she had no idea it was a gunshot from next door.

"We lived in a really bad neighborhood, and a lot of times there would be really loud sounds, and I didn't know where they were coming from but it was fairly commonplace," said Rodarte.

Geller himself called 911 to report what he said was an accidental shooting.

The prosecution rested its case and the defense called its first witness, George Boehner, a close personal friend of the Gellers who testified Terry Geller told him the shooting was an accident.

Geller is expected to take the stand in his own defense when testimony resumes next week.