Tree cutting case heads to court

COEUR d'ALENE - The case involving the woman who reportedly hacked her neighbor's trees in half is going to court.

Chris Greenfield, 52, waived her preliminary hearing Thursday, meaning she consented that there could be enough reason to believe she committed a crime against Eric Wurmlinger's property to warrant a trial.

The charge could have been dismissed had the hearing taken place.

Now Greenfield must enter a plea of guilty or not guilty on the count of malicious injury to property, either in writing to the court or at a yet-to-be scheduled court hearing.

If Greenfield pleads not guilty, a trial will be scheduled.

Prosecuting attorney Marty Raap estimated that the trial would be in four or five months, to which 1st District Judge Fred Gibler has been assigned.

Greenfield has lived next to Wurmlinger, 52, at Parkwood Place in Post Falls for around five years. In April, Greenfield reportedly cut six feet off a row of 10 arbavida trees - up to $10,000 in estimated damages - that bordered the neighbors' properties when Wurmlinger and his family were away on vacation.

The neighbors have had several dozen disputes over the years, according to the Post Falls Police Department.