| Summary |
"Trial By Perjury: Millionaire, Mania & Misinformation by Nancy Hall is about how Celeste Beard Johnson was convicted in 2003 of capital murder in the death of her then husband Steven F. Beard, who died of natural causes in 2000. She was sentenced to life in prison. While in bed at home in Oct. 1999, Steven was shot in his stomach with a shotgun. Tracey Tarlton, a woman who became infatuated with Celeste after they met in February 1999, admitted the shooting and she was charged with Injury to an Elderly Person. Steven recovered and was discharged from the hospital on January 18, 2000. The next day he was readmitted with a yeast infection and he complained of chest pains. Exams showed he had severe heart disease and other medical problems. He died four days later. Tarlton and Celeste were charged with murdering Steven. Tarlton pled guilty and agreed to testify against Celeste in exchange for a 10-20 year prison sentence. Celeste was convicted even though medical evidence showed Steven died of natural causes – not murder." |