Replay: Bob Bashara returns to the stand in retrial bidBy Elisha Anderson, Detroit Free Press 4:09 p.m. EDT October 19, 2015
Former Grosse Pointe Park businessman Bob Bashara is expected to return to the stand in a Detroit courtroom today for his third day of testimony in his quest for a retrial.
Bashara, 57, is serving life in prison without the possibility of parole for the 2012 murder of his wife, Jane Bashara. He is seeking a new trial, claiming his was denied a fair one last year.
A jury convicted Bashara of first-degree murder, but he maintains his innocence in the case. Officials have said Bashara orchestrated his wife's killing and conspired with his former handyman, Joseph Gentz, who told authorities he killed Jane Bashara at her husband's direction.
Gentz accepted a plea deal and is serving 17-28 years in prison for second-degree murder. As part of the deal, Gentz agreed to testify, but later refused.
In a motion filed seeking a new trial filed by his appellate attorney, Ronald Ambrose, Bashara took issue with the fact that he was unable to confront Gentz during the trial.
Bashara has also claimed during the evidentiary hearing in Wayne County Circuit Court that he wanted others to take the stand during his lengthy trial, but said they weren’t called by his trial attorneys.
Bashara has repeatedly dished out blame for his plight as he testified taking issue with a host of people, including several of his former attorneys, police, prosecutors, witnesses and reporters, calling the news media a "brood of vipers."
Testimony in the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice has been wide-ranging. Among some of the other topics covered: Bashara's extramarital relationships with other women, his involvement in the BDSM – bondage, discipline and sadomasochism – lifestyle, his use of cocaine, lies he told and issues he had with his defense at his trial.
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