Former Isleworth millionaire Bob Ward is standing trial — for a second time — accused of murdering his wife, Diane.

  • Opening statements in Bob Ward's 2nd trial underway
  • He's accused of fatally shooting wife in 2009
  • Judge threw out conviction last year, granted new trial
  • INTERACTIVE TIMELINE: Events in the Bob Ward murder case ▼

After opening statements Wednesday, prosecutors opened their case by playing the 911 call Bob Ward made moments after his wife’s shooting.

Diane Ward was shot in September 2009 in the bedroom of the mansion the couple shared in the Orange County community

In the call to 911, Ward is heard telling the dispatcher multiple times, “I shot my wife.”

Defense attorney Craig Gillen cautioned the jury that those statements are not an admission of guilt.

“What happened there was a tragedy,” Gillen told the jury during his opening statements. “What did Mr. Ward do after the tragic accident? He immediately called the authorities.”

Prosecutors say Ward only mentioned the shooting being an accident after it was suggested by the dispatcher. She was among six people to take the stand Wednesday for the state.

Ward was first convicted by a jury in 2011 of second-degree murder. A judge threw out the conviction last year and granted a retrial, saying past defense attorneys did not properly handle and object to evidence in the case.

The call is a focal point in this new trial.

Prosecutors argue Ward shot his wife as pressure mounted from a business bankruptcy.

“When you mix pressure, guns, alcohol, wine on somebody’s back, that’s a catalyst for something like this to happen,” prosecutors said during opening statements. “I submit, at close of this case, there’s going to be proof beyond a reasonable doubt that it was Mr. Ward who had the gun in his hand first, squeezed the trigger and shot and killed his wife out of anger.”

Defense attorneys argue it was an accident and say they plan to call to the stand Diane’s sister and two daughters later in the week. 

Interactive timeline: The Bob Ward case

Infographic by Anthony Leone, staff