Joe Gentz Refuses To Testify In Bob Bashara Murder Trial, Could Lose Plea Deal
DETROIT (WWJ) - A metro Detroit handyman turned hitman says he will not testify.
Joe Gentz, who confessed to the 2012 strangulation death of 56-year-old Jane Bashara in the garage of her Grosse Pointe Park home, is now refusing to take the stand as a witness in the upcoming murder trial of Bashara's husband, Bob.
Gentz is presently serving 17-to-28 years in prison after pleading guilty to second degree murder in the case. He admitted to killing Jane Bashara, saying her husband Bob Bashara paid him for the job and then forced him to go through with it at gunpoint.
Attorney John Holler, who represents Gentz, is seeking a reduced sentence from prosecutors in exchange for his client's testimony.
He understand why Gentz is apprehensive.
"Even though Mr. Bashara is in prison, Mr. Bashara — having tried to kill in him the jail before, or paying somebody to kill him — that sooner or later is gonna happen in prison in this stretch; that's what he believes," Holler said.
"I don't care if he has diminished intelligence or not," added Holler, "he could have a legitimate belief here, you know? Prison is full of dangerous men."
It's possible that Gentz's plea could be rescinded, and first degree murder charges filed, since Gentz had agreed to testify in exchange for the deal.
Gentz claims he was initially offered a better plea deal than the one he agreed to, and Holler believes his client has been getting some bad advice from "jailhouse lawyers."
"He spoke with an attorney who was serving time, a cop who was serving time, and they put some things into his head that, you know, this is not the way deals are done," Holler said. "'They pulled the whool over your eyes, Joe.'"
After Jane Bashara's body was found in her SUV in a Detroit alley in 2012, Gentz confessed to the crime, claiming Bob Bashara had intimidated him. Prosecutors claim Bob 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.
Testimony in Bob Bashara's first degree murder trial in connection with his wife's death is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, Oct. 14; and prosecutors say they're prepared to move forward with the case without Gentz's testimony.
Bob Bashara remains behind bars after he pleaded guilty to trying to have Gentz killed in jail. He's repeatedly denied playing any role in his wife's death.
MORE: Jury Seated In Bashara Murder Trial; Testimony Expected To Include 'Sex Dungeon' Details
