I agree. Neither of them are smart enough to have done this before.
I agree this was based on personal rage, though I wouldn't rule out previous violent crime in other situations.
I read that report about SM's previous assault and battery arrest.
The neighbor (age 57, I think) said SM held him down while TM's father kicked him repeatedly over some property boundary dispute. SM denied it entirely, saying he only pulled the neighbor off his father-in-law.
(JMO):
It's disturbing how seemingly unaffected TM and SM are.
No indication of remorse
whatsoever.
I think when the affair was discovered, SM downplayed it, of course, (3 times! 3 times!) and put all the blame on HE - "She pursued me" , "I'm the hapless victim here", etc.
When he continued the affair or was suspected to continue the affair, TM became obsessed with HE, following social accounts, etc.
Who knows who TM might've been using as a sounding board, maybe someone all too willing to fan the flames.
As TM's jealousy and anger grew, SM's life would've become more hellish at home.
Some angry comment from TM about killing HE could've grown into an actual plan.
If SM did resist, he would've looked like he had feelings for HE.
Unacceptable!
His participation could've been about "not losing his stuff" or something TM held over his head; possibly, something illegal. This threat wouldn't even have to be spoken aloud.
Maybe being married to TM since age 20, no contact with his family, and being fully surrounded by TM's family factored in to SM's compliance.
Or who knows, it may have been some kind of sick turn-on for the pretty boy - knowing what his woman was willing to do to keep him.
