Eric McLean Trial Underway in Knoxville

Facing a murder charge for killing a man with whom his wife was having an affair, Eric McLean is now on trial in Knoxville, Tennessee.

The story of Eric and Erin McLean, and a former student of Erin, Sean Powell, made international news back in early 2007. Erin had been a student teacher intern at West High School in Knoxville as part of her course of study to become a teacher. It was there that she met and formed a relationship with a 17-year-old student named Sean Powell in the Fall of 2006.

Powell dropped out of school in December of 2006 and moved to Nashville to live with his mother. But Powell and Erin continued having contact through cell phone and text messages. One such message sent by Erin to Sean stated, 'Baby, come home. I love you. I miss you.'

Eric McLean stated that he had become aware of a relationship between Powell and his wife when his son informed him that he has seen the pair walking hand-in-hand in a park in Knoxville.

Early in 2007, Powell drove to the McLean home in Knoxville to see Erin. Eric McLean refused to allow Powell into the house. Powell then spend several nights sleeping in his car in front of the McLean home.

Finally, a confrontation took place when Powell sought entrance into the home once again, this time with Erin urging her husband to allow Powell to come in. It was then that a 911 call was placed to police by Eric, who informed the dispatcher that there was an intruder in his home.

The next 911 call from the McLean residence was placed by Erin who informed the dispatcher that her husband had shot Sean Powell.

Eric McLean left the residence and parked his vehicle at the school where his wife had been a student intern--the place where she met Powell. He then took a firearm and began walking along the railroad tracks outside of Knoxville. It was there he was apprehended by police.

Eric granted an interview with a national TV morning show after his arrest and apologized for killing Powell, stating that it was a big mistake, an 'accident.' He also admitted being angry about the relationship between his wife and her former student, who was significantly younger.

As for Erin McLean, in the aftermath of the shooting she moved to Nashville to stay with relatives. At one point she was hospitalized following a suicide attempt. She was also fired from a job at a school in the area once it was discovered that she had once again attempted to form an inappropriate relationship with a student. The school also claimed it was unaware that Erin was the woman who was at the forefront of a love triangle that ended in murder.

The last news we heard about Erin was that she had fled from her grandparents' home in the dead of night, taking her children with her, and traveling to an unknown destination. Through her attorney she informed reporters that she and her children were safe and that she was staying with friends at an undisclosed location out of state.

In a rather bizarre twist, reporters were informed that Erin McLean was not planning to come to Knoxville to be a part of the trial of Eric McLean, although she is the only known eye-witness.

In a late-breaking development, Eric McLean took the stand in his own defense Tuesday and stated that he had caught his wife and Sean Powell having sex in their home. He further stated that Erin knew that he had seen her and Powell in the act.

Eric also describes at least one incident where both his wife and Powell taunted him about his children, telling Eric that the children would be much better off with Erin and Powell.

For further details concerning the trial of Eric McLean, click HERE to go to WVLT-TV in Knoxville.