Retailer/con organizer Michael George pled not guilty to the murder of his wife 17 years ago, local papers are reporting. George’s lawyer intends to pursue an “aggressive defense.”

Marlinga said he believes prosecutors have a weak circumstantial case and because of that on Monday filed a motion to release George on a “reasonable bond” with a tether confining him to his mother’s house in Hazel Park. He is currently being held without bond.

“This is a cold case not solved for 17 years, and we don’t believe it is solved today,” Marlinga told Judge Biernat.

But assistant Macomb prosecutor Steven Kaplan, head of the cold case unit, countered outside the courtroom Monday that more evidence will be presented at trial.