Judge Fed Up With Bickering Ahead Of Bashara Murder Trial: 'I Am Not A Referee At A Little League Game'
DETROIT (WWJ) - Bob Bashara of Grosse Pointe Park goes on trial for the murder of his wife in October, and Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Vonda Evans wants it to start on time.
At a motion hearing Friday, Evans lectured attorneys when they argued over whether to return items to the defense.
"We have to waste precious court time to come in here to talk about things that you all can resolve when you meet with each other," Evans said. "Every time that there's a disagreement, you all are gonna have to work this out; but this is unacceptable. We've been back over this, over and over and over again."
"Every little thing, there's a contention; there's an issue," Evans said. "Now, I don't know if it's because you're playing to the media, or if there's a legitimate concern."
Clearly impatient with attorneys on both sides, Judge Evans ordered laptops, cellphones and hard drives returned to the defense. The items belong to Richard Falcinelli, appointed by Barshara as his power of attorney on business and personal matters.
"I am a judge and you are lawyer," Evans said. "I am not a referee at a Little League game, and I refuse to allow this trial to go down this path, because it's not fair to Mrs. Bashara, and it's not fair to the defense."
Bashara is accused of hiring handyman Joe Gentz to strangle his 56-year-old wife Jane, whose body was found in her SUV in a Detroit alley in 2012. 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 another woman, or two.
Bashara remains in prison after he pleaded guilty to trying to have Gentz killed in jail. He's repeatedly denied playing any role in his wife's death.