Bob Bashara Pleads Not Guilty In Wife's Murder

DETROIT (WWJ) - Grosse Pointe Park businessman Bob Bashara has pleaded not guilty in the death of his wife, found strangled last year.

Bashara entered the plea at an arraignment Friday morning — one week following the conclusion of a five-day preliminary exam during which Wayne Circuit Court Vonda Evans heard sometimes uncomfortable testimony about the defendant's personal life.

Three women testified they were involved in romantic relationships with the married Bashara — sharing details about their sex lives, which involved choking and other BDSM games.

Bashara's college-age daughter told the court her father had a porn addiction, has been caught by family members "sexting," and that she knew about at least one of his extramarital affairs.

One former girlfriend said he kept her in a basement dungeon.

An acquaintance from the bondage scene testified Bashara told him he wanted to "get rid of" his wife.

Prosecutors say Bashara hired handyman Joe Gentz to kill his wife, Jane Bashara, in January of 2012 — and Gentz, in a plea agreement, agreed to testify to that.

Jane Bashara's body was found Jan. 24, 2012, in her Mercedes-Benz SUV in Detroit, a few miles from the couple's home in Grosse Pointe Park.

Bashara is already serving up to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to trying to have Gentz killed in jail, but has continually denied being involved in his wife's death.

A trial date was set for March 3, 2014.  Pre-trial motions are due by Dec. 11.