Domestic Abuse Trial Begins For White Plains Mayor
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (CBS 2/1010 WINS) -- Testimony began Monday in the highly-anticipated domestic violence trial of White Plains Mayor Adam Bradley.
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1010 WINS' Steve Sandberg reports
Bitter divorce proceedings, abuse allegations, and subsequent calls for his resignation have dominated Bradley's tenure. He was determined to paint his estranged wife as the aggressor, CBS 2HD's Lou Young reports.
The mayor faced misdemeanor assault and harassment charges, stemming from two arrests following domestic violence calls.
The D.A. said he abused his wife Fumikowith an escalating pattern of verbal and physical abuse that began when he started to run for mayor in 2009.
Bradley's problems surfaced eight months ago when Fumiko, filed a police complaint accusing him of slamming her hand in a door during an argument.
"I will not take this opportunity to publicly argue with my wife," he said.
Fumiko took the stand around 3:30 p.m. Monday and testified Bradley told her, "You deserve to be hurt," after dousing her with hot tea, 1010 WINS' Steve Sandberg reported. The trial concluded late Monday and she is schedule to resume testimony Tuesday at 9:30 a.m.
Mayor Bradley immediately acknowledged problems in his marriage, but denied the abuse allegations. His estranged wife offered seemingly contradictory statements about her husband.
Bradley asked the judge Monday to allow a marriage counselor to testify that she had never mentioned abuse during their sessions - a request the judge refused.
Bradley's attorney said that one of their two daughters witnessed one of the incidents, and told a social worker that mommy pushed daddy and that it was an accident.
In February she told the Journal News Bradley was "a great mayor and a great father, too."
The next month however, in emails from Fumiko to a friend, obtained by CBS 2HD, she wrote "he just came home five minutes ago. He already called me stupid and crazy. I am waiting for the next opportunity that I can call the police. I am done with him."
In April, Bradley refused to step down. "We are all entitled to our day in court," he said. He then stopped talking publicly about the case.
Attorneys for both sides were expected to call some 31 witnesses in a trial that could determine Bradley's political future.
