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Lawyer says slow-cooker killing followed fight over politics

Posted February 04, 2015 10:00 pm

The Associated Press

LIVONIA, Mich. (AP) - A defense lawyer says an argument about presidential politics led to a fight in which his client is accused of beating her 66-year-old friend to death with a slow cooker.

A suburban Detroit judge on Thursday ordered 50-year-old Tewana Sullivan of Detroit tried for first-degree murder in the October death of Cheryl Livy at Livy's home in a Livonia senior housing complex.

Police Officer Michael Lewallen says he found Sullivan sobbing near her mortally injured friend and saying she was "sorry" she "did it."

Defense lawyer John McWilliams tells The Detroit News (http://bit.ly/1C3Xf34) the women were arguing over "presidential politics" and "whatever the controversy is between Democrats and Republicans." He won't say which woman took which side.

First-degree murder carries a mandatory penalty of life without parole. Sullivan's next court date is Feb. 12.

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Information from: The Detroit News, http://detnews.com/

Defendant Tewana Sullivan, right, reacts while looking at photographs with her attorney, John McWilliams, taken of Sullivan when she was arrested and, according to testimony, having blood on her hands and clothing. Preliminary examination for defendant Tewana Sullivan, charged with first degree murder, at 16th District Court in Livonia, Mich. on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015. Sullivan is charged in the death of Cheryl Livy, allegedly bludgeoning her with a slow cooker in an argument over presidential politics. (AP Photo/The Detroit News, Robin Buckson) The Associated Press

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