What Derrick Higdon's wife said in his defense

Melissa Higdon met her husband, Derrick, in April of 2015 at a church conference for single adults.

For the entirety of their relationship up until the couple got married, Derrick Higdon, according to prosecutors, was cheating on Melissa with his ex-girlfriend, Misty Oakes.

Melissa testified Wednesday during her husband's trial that he didn't tell her about any of it.

Prosecutor Debbie Gulledge has painted Derrick Higdon as a spurned lover and a sex pest, who continually asked his ex-girlfriend for sex and became enraged when she told him no after his marriage. Derrick Higdon is accused of setting Oakes' house on fire on July 23, 2017 while Oakes hid on the floor of her car. Oakes' two cats, Spike and Barney, died in the fire. Higdon, who can be seen on surveillance footage approaching Oakes' house, was charged with attempted first-degree murder, breaking and entering with intent to terrorize and injure, cruelty to animals and first-degree arson. Higdon is representing himself in court, with assistance from attorney Charles Lifford.On Wednesday, after almost two weeks of court proceedings, Superior Court Judge Sally Kirby-Turner granted Higdon a small victory, telling him that the jury would consider an attempted first-degree arson charge, not the first-degree arson charge he originally faced.

But what followed that victory was testimony that, although seemingly intended to vindicate Higdon, ended up painting him as a cheating husband who habitually hid his adulterous intentions from his unknowing wife.

Derrick Higdon initially asked Melissa a series of questions that seemed intended to introduce character evidence. She wasn't allowed to answer them.

"Do I cuss at all?" Higdon asked.

"Objection," said Gulledge.

"Sustained," Kirby-Turner said.

"Have I ever been violent toward you?" He asked shortly thereafter.

"Objection," Gulledge said.

"Sustained," Kirby-Turner said.

"Have you known me to use profanity?" He asked.

Melissa Higdon wasn't allowed to answer the question.

"Have I ever called you names?" Higdon asked.

Gulledge objected, and Kirby-Turner agreed with her.

"Did it seem to affect me mentally when (Oakes) and I talked?" he asked.

Gulledge objected again, and Melissa Higdon was barred from answering the question.

Higdon questioned his wife about a July 10, 2017 incident in which Misty Oakes said she went to his house, and when she told him she no longer wanted to have sex with him, he attacked her, leaving her bruised and terrified.

"When you got home, did you see anything out of place?" He asked.

Melissa Higdon said there was a knife on the bar that hadn't been there before and added that Derrick Higdon seemed emotionally and physically drained and had a cut on his arm.

"Did I want to pursue filing charges?" he asked, referring to the fact that he went to a magistrate and swore out warrants for Oakes' arrest. (Oakes was later acquitted of all charges.)

Gulledge objected, and Melissa Higdon wasn't allowed to answer the question.

Derrick Higdon asked his wife about a protective order he was granted against Misty Oakes. Melissa Higdon acknowledged there was one, which he received after swearing out warrants for Oakes' arrest. When he asked his wife to explain why it was in place, Gulledge objected and Melissa Higdon wasn't allowed to answer.

Derrick Higdon also asked his wife whether he told her where was going the night Oakes' house burned. She said he didn't.

After Derrick Higdon asked his questions, Gulledge cross-examined Melissa Higdon. Under cross-examination, Melissa Higdon said that Derrick Higdon did actually tell her where he was going.

Gulledge asked Melissa Higdon if Derrick Higdon had told her about the fact that he had sex with his ex-girlfriend throughout the time he dated Melissa. She said he didn't.

Gulledge also asked Melissa Higdon if Derrick Higdon told her that he was using dating apps after they got married, searching for Oakes' profile on the apps and on Facebook.

Melissa Higdon said she didn't know about it.

Derrick Higdon asked his wife if the two of them had resolved the issues between them.

She said yes.

"Does Mr. Higdon scare you?" he asked, referring to himself in the third person.

"Objection," Gulledge said.

"Sustained," Kirby-Turner said.

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: What Derrick Higdon's wife said in his defense