Defense makes closing arguments

CONCORD, N.C. -- A lawyer for a Cabarrus County mother on trial for allegedly setting her home on fire and leaving her children to die compared her arrest Tuesday to a witch hunt.

Lisa Greene, 42, is charged with one count of first-degree arson and two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the January 10, 2006 fire that killed her 10-year-old son and 8-year-old daughter.

She could face the death penalty if convicted.

In her closing arguments Tuesday afternoon, defense attorney Lisa Dubs said investigators ignored evidence that exonerates Greene. She said Greene’s friends and neighbors turned on her when they suspected the fatal fire was not an accident.

“If you say she’s a witch, bring me the broom. If you say she (performs) curses with her black hat, bring me the black hat,” Dubs told jurors.

Prosecutors contend Greene was unhappy as a single mother and was dating a man who did not like children.

Investigators have said Greene confessed to placing a burning blanket on a bookshelf outside her children’s bedroom, trapping them in the home.

Defense attorney Robert Campbell repeated his previous argument Tuesday that arson investigators misinterpreted burn patterns and other evidence at the fire scene in determining the blaze was intentionally set.

Campbell also worked to explain why Greene was not able to rescue her children from the burning home, arguing she became confused and disoriented after inhaling toxic fumes from the fire.

“It’s easy to be an armchair hero -- ‘You should have done this, done that,’” Campbell said. “But when we’re faced with that situation alone how would we react?”

Prosecutors are expected to begin their closing arguments sometime Wednesday.

Jurors could begin deliberations on Thursday.