KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Linda Livingston laid on the floor outside of a second-floor Kalamazoo County courtroom on Tuesday, weeping uncontrollably.
She had just heard the verdicts in the first-degree murder case against her 21-year-old son, Antonio.
Guilty.
A jury ruled that Antonio Livingston knowingly assisted in the robbery and beating death of Robert Medema, 74, of Portage in August 2012.
Medema, a well-known antique store owner, was found dead in his home on August 11.
Livingston was found guilty of first-degree murder, felony murder, first-degree home invasion, and assault with intent to rob.
After she composed herself, Linda Livingston proclaimed her son’s innocence.
“This isn’t over,” she said. “He is not a murderer. My son was framed. Yes, he was there, but he did not do this.”
Linda continued to make the same claims as her son’s defense: Antonio was merely following the lead of John Aguilar, who will stand his own trial in April.
Livingston took the stand in his own defense last week and testified that Aguilar beat Medema to death with a baseball bat.
Linda says her son only went along with Aguilar because he was afraid.
“As I was,” she said. “We all were.”
As for the victim, Dave Pressinger, a long-time friend and business partner of Medema’s, is thankful for the closure he expected.
“I’m pleased with the outcome,” he said. “I anticipated this verdict. Thanks for all the work the prosecution and detectives did. I’m happy with it.”
But Linda Livingston isn’t ready to give up.
“My son is not a murderer. I will fight for him. I love him.”
Livingston will be back in court to be sentenced on March 25.
