Bob Bashara Heads To Trial In Wife's Murder
DETROIT (WWJ) - Bob Bashara, who is charged with hiring a hit man to kill his wife in Grosse Pointe Park, will stand trial for murder.
Wayne County Circuit Judge Vonda Evans had floated the idea of some type of resolution during a hearing earlier this month, asking Bashara to consider his circumstances -- but all that was put to rest at a hearing Wednesday. Prosecutors told Evans a plea deal was not offered to Bashara, who will instead go to trial as scheduled on Oct. 6.
Evans said the large jury pool will not be given questionnaires. Instead, each attorney will question each potential juror.
Bashara is accused of paying the family's handyman, Joe Gentz, to strangle his 56-year-old wife Jane, whose body was found in her SUV in a Detroit alley in 2012. Gentz confessed to the crime, claiming Bashara had intimidated him.
Prosecutors claim Bashara — who led a secret life in S&M clubs as "Master Bob" — had his wife killed so he could carry on affairs with other women. He's charged with first-degree premeditated murder.
Bashara remains in prison after pleading guilty in 2012 to trying to have Gentz killed in jail. He's repeatedly denied playing any role in his wife's death.
Gentz is serving time on a second-degree murder charge in the case.
A trial has been scheduled to begin Oct. 6.
