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•/.v.v.v//»*•Doctor testifies for LearBy CHARLES F. UcGBBK Cornier liaaes Stag WitterLtwdl Lear “acted with esolo-#■sivejtory because of frustration in the stabbing death of his wife, Winifred, a psychiatrist testified yesterday.Dr. Robert Sadoff of Jenkia-, town told the coart be believe I the 34-year-oid Lear, a resident« Upper Makefidd Towostop, 'did noi plan it (the stabbing) out/’ Lear entered a guilty plea to voluntary manslaughter before Judge John J. Bodley Monday morning. The bearing oo the pteacontinued thfe morning.Lear was accused of stabbing his wife with a penknife while the couple was on their way to a hank to lt;ash an income lax refund check last May 17.Following Release The incident took place six weeks after Mrs. Lear had been released from Bucks County Prison after she served five months of a threc-to-lft-month sentence for involuntary manslaughter in the shotgun death of an alleged prowler at the-Lear home on Oakdale Ave. Washington Crossing, on June 25,1968. She was sentenced in the death of Vernon Bergen on Nov. 4.1969.The mother of three was released from Bucks prison on probaboo oo April 4. Lear told the court be tadpkkad up bis wife at the apartment of bis brother, DeL ford, to have her countersign the check in the amount of $376- He indicated his wife had been seeing his brother frequently since her release from prisonDJL QuestionsIn answer to questions from Assistant District Attorney Mi-dad O'Brien. Lear said his feelings over the incident “were pretty sad/'With his head and eye* castdownward, the defendant answered. “No to O'Brien’s question. “Did you want to kill her?“Did you want to beat her up? asked O'Brien.“No. replied Lear withoutlooking up.What did yon want to do? O'Brien pressed and Lear answered. “I don’t know what i wanted to do.He told the court his wife had said I don't give a damn shout you and the children during the ride. The couple never reached the bank.Lear said he drove along for a short time and when he found a place be pulled the car from the roadway and his wife began to grab his clothing and hit him.“She came at you? O'Brien asked and Lear replied,u Yes/'He said he picked the penknife up from the floor of the car with his Kef t hand and admitted be bad to look for it during the altercation with his wife.Had you told her you were going to kill her? O'Brien questioned- Lear answered, “No Dut Not RecallLear said be djd not recall inflicting stab wounds in his wife’s legs, forearm, wrist, chest or heart.“How long did you struggle with her/' O'Brien asked.“I don't know. Lear said. “More than a minute? O'Brien continued. “More than two minutes? Lear replied. “Yes to both questions.More than three minutes. O'Brien added. Lear replied. “I guess so.*'Did she cry or scream? O'Brien went on_*‘I don’t know. Lear answered.Drove to Station The defendant said his wife threw her hands in the air and he then drove to the Upper Make-field Township Police station. He said his wife said nothing on the trip and neither did be. She did. he said, fall over on the seat when he made a sharp (urn.“Did you know $be was dy-icg?“ O'Brien asked.“I knew she was hurl. Lear answered. He added be did not know where the knife was, but recalled giving it to Patrolman Russell R. Lynn. Ibis was on hts second stop at the station. On the first visit be told the court no one was at the building and be left toMasterpieces are retrievedVENICE. Italy 4 t'PL—Policeraided a Venetian island atdawn today and recovered five masterworks stolen last week in what one art expert called Italy’s biggest art theft of die past half century.Two paintings by Giovanni Bellini, called Giambelitno. and three panels on wood by Bartolomeo Vivarint were found under cover on the island of PovegUa facing the Lido, bestknown of rite sand bar tsiami*that separate the Venice Lagoon from the Adriatic Sea.Authorities said two of the Vivarint panels had been slightly damaged but the works apparently had not had time to suffer from the changes in temperature and humiditylocate the police officer i not identified in court# who lived near himDid Not SlopLear said he did not stop at the officer s home because the patrol car was not parked out front and that when he returned to the station, employees of the road department were there and be asked them to use the telephone to make so emergency call.According to Lear s testimony, he called the Bucks County Police Radio Room and asked to have a police officer stop at the station.Lynn had testified earlier that it was about 4:45 p.m. when he met Lear at the station and the defendant handed him the pocket-knife and pointed to the car in which Mrs. Lear’s body was found.Dr. Sadoff told the court be believed Lear was frustrated because he could not have his way in hating his wife return to the fjami-ly.Lear. question*from Judge Bodiey. said be had taken the penknife with him (o pick up his wife because he was afraid, at that time of his brother and of his brother's roommate.Defense attorney Stephen Shantz and O’Brien were to sum up their cases today.
Newspaper Details
Bucks County Courier Times
Levittown, Pennsylvania, US
Wed, Sep 15, 1971
Page 2
Full Page
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USA 12 Apr 2020
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