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Hearing For Joseph Gentz In Bashara Case Postponed

DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - A pre-trial hearing for Joseph Gentz, which was scheduled for Friday, has been postponed until Dec. 21.

Gentz is the handyman who told police he killed a Grosse Pointe Park woman at her husband's request. He is charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy in the death of Jane Bashara, who he told investigators he killed in January at the direction of her husband, Bob Bashara.

Jane Bashara's body was found in her Mercedes-Benz SUV parked in an alley at a Detroit alley on Jan. 25.

Bob Bashara has been called a suspect in his wife's slaying, but has not been charged in her death. He was sentenced Monday to 80 months to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to hiring a hit man to kill Gentz.

WWJ Legal Analyst and Talkradio 1270 host Charlie Langton predicts that Bob Bashara will be back in court when Gentz goes to trial.

"And we know this in part because Joe Gentz has been charge with the murder of Jane Bashara, but Joe Gentz is also charge with conspiracy. And conspiracy usually means at least two people," Langton said. "Joe Gentz is one. Who could the other one be? More than likely, it's Bob Bashara."

Assistant prosecutor Robert Moran added to the intrigue Monday when he told the judge that Bashara wasn't acting out of "vengeance" when he wanted Gentz dead in jail.  Moran told reporters Bashara wanted to kill someone who is a potential witness against him, but would not elaborate.

(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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