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Bashara Pleads In Alleged Hit Man Scheme

DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - A Grosse Pointe Park businessman charged with trying to pay someone to kill the man accused in his wife's strangulation death has made a brief court appearance.

A not guilty plea was entered Tuesday for Bob Bashara during his arraignment in Wayne County Circuit Court. An Aug. 17 scheduling conference was set.

Bashara is accused of trying to have a hit man kill jail inmate Joe Gentz -- who is facing murder and conspiracy charges after reportedly telling police he was hired by Bashara to kill Jane Bashara, whose body was found in her Mercedes-Benz SUV parked in an alley at Pinewood and Annott in Detroit on Jan. 25.

Bashara has not been charged in his wife's death but has been named as a person of interest. He has a new lawyer, Mark Kriger, who says he's getting up to speed on the case.

"I don't comment on pending cases. I don't think it's proper," Krieger told reporters outside of the courtroom.

Kriger replaces attorney David Griem, who removed himself from the case after suffering what he called a "breakdown in communication" with Bashara.

Catch up on the Bashara case -

Stay with WWJ Newsradio and CBSDetroit.com for continuing coverage.

TM and © Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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