Witnesses testify Hudson feared his son

Friends and neighbors of Michael Hudson took the stand June 2 to testify in his defense.  They said Hudson told them he was afraid of his son, Spencer Ashing.

Hudson, 59, stands trial for the murder of Ashing, 19, whose body was found naked, decomposing and covered in lime in Hudson’s backyard.  Hudson testified May 31 that he shot Ashing four times Feb. 3, 2010, in the Milton trailer where they both lived.  Hudson said he dragged his son’s body outside and covered it with a tarp.  Police found Ashing’s body and arrested Hudson, March 26, 2010.

Milton resident Hank Bonk, 57, told jurors he and Hudson have been friends since their early teens.  After Ashing moved into Hudson’s home in 2007, Bonk said he told Hudson not to bring Ashing along on visits to Bonk’s home on Harbeson Road.

“I asked him to stop bringing him because he was causing trouble with my children,” Bonk testified.

On one occasion at Hudson’s home on Russell Street in Milton, Bonk said Ashing threatened to hurt him.  “He was being belligerent, and he told me to get out of his house,” Bonk said.

Bonk testified he witnessed Ashing acting violently toward Hudson on several occasions.  On one occasion, when Ashing was about 16, he chucked an empty bottle of gin and a bong at his father when the two were arguing about Ashing finding a job, Bonk said.

Hudson did not want Ashing to move back into his home, Bonk testified.  “He was afraid, fearful,” Bonk said.  “I told him he should throw him out.”

When Ashing went missing, Hudson said he did not know where he was, Bonk testified.  “He told me he didn’t know, and I took him at his word,” Bonk said.

Annie Bishop and Zane Edwards live on Russell Street in Milton, about five houses away from where Hudson and Ashing lived.  Bishop and Edwards testified separately to an incident in April 2009, in which Hudson suffered a broken finger and state police were called.

Bishop said she had been in her backyard when she saw Hudson walking up the street, talking loudly on a cell phone.  When Hudson saw Bishop, she said he approached her.  “He was bleeding.  I guess he was looking for some help,” Bishop said.

Bishop said Ashing was running up the street behind Hudson, wearing no shirt and no shoes.  “He was definitely after his father,” she said.  Bishop said Ashing stopped at her property line and yelled at Hudson, “Dad, don’t forget, you were the one that pulled the gun first.”  Bishop said she did not see a gun on Hudson or Ashing.

Edwards testified he drove Hudson to the hospital, where Hudson received stitches in his finger.  Hudson told Edwards his son had slammed his finger in the front door.  Hudson said he was afraid to return home because of what Ashing may do to him, Edwards testified.

Jessica Smith, chief forensic toxicologist for the Office of the Medical Examiner testified she found methadone in Ashing's blood after his body was found.  Smith also said benzodiazepine showed up in a preliminary blood test, but there was not enough of the drug to confirm it was present in Ashing’s body in the toxicology report.

Hudson testified May 31 that he had prescriptions for both methadone, a moderate to severe pain reliever, and Valium, an anti-anxiety medication made up of benzodiazepine.

Trial is scheduled to continue at 9:30 a.m., Monday, June 6, in Sussex County Superior Courthouse in Georgetown.