Judge Sets New Trial Date In Bashara Murder Case
DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - A judge has scheduled an October trial for Bob Bashara, who authorities say arranged the strangulation of his wife at this Grosse Pointe Park home.
Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Vonda Evans on Tuesday set the trial for Oct. 6.
She also laid the groundwork for jury selection, saying that 150 jurors would be questioned. "Because of the high publicity of this case, the court is going to do jury selection by using juror questionnaires," Evans said.
After Bashara, last month, was granted his request for new representation, Evans appointed lawyers David Cripps, Gabi Silver and Lillian Diallo to his legal team. But after hearing discussing Tuesday on whether Bashara should have two or three attorneys, Evans unappointed Cripps, saying she would make a final decision on additional counsel on April 4.
Bashara is charged with first-degree murder in the killing of 56-year-old Jane Bashara. Authorities say she was beaten and strangled at the couple's house in January 2012 and her body left in a car in a Detroit alley.
The family's former handyman Joe Gentz is in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder. He has said Bob Bashara paid him to kill Jane Bashara and threatened to kill him unless he followed orders.
Bob Bashara in media interviews repeatedly has denied any role in his wife's death. He pleaded guilty in 2012 to trying to have Gentz killed in jail and is already serving time in that case.
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