00:00:00
foreign on the ground in the shower I need to go over there and see if she's okay okay how do you know she's down
00:00:29
there my dad my dad's over there he's in the bathtub it's like a house phone [Music]
00:00:45
the actual call came out where the victim fell in the shower the supervisor of the scene called and
00:00:59
said I think you're going to want to come up here there's quite a bit of blood I'm thinking this had to have been some
00:01:05
fall Dr newlander said that he removed his wife from the shower and ultimately took her into the bedroom in order to
00:01:12
perform CPR emergency Personnel determined that she was dead shortly after they arrived Leslie was so well
00:01:20
known they were both very active in the philanthropic community he's delivered thousands of babies so if
00:01:27
you you know you just multiply that out there's literally tens of thousands of people that have some connection to Dr
00:01:32
newlander the medical examiner makes a ruling she slipped and fell in the shower accidental death right I thought
00:01:40
you know how sad and then went about doing the other things that I'm supposed to do
00:01:49
you know this was supposed to be a fall in the shower but we've got blood on this wall
00:01:53
some blood spatter up on on an angled wall and then my suspicions began to rise and
00:02:03
I'm wondering if if we missed something here do you have any explanation the best explanation to me is an impact
00:02:25
event [Music] on or near the South side of the bed impacts better Force impacting liquid
00:02:33
blood there was obviously a violent encounter in that bedroom inconsistent with a scenario where she
00:02:43
wakes up goes into the shower slips and is discovered by her husband [Music] it's a homicide it's an arrest 18 months
00:02:53
in the making it was originally ruled an accident but police have been investigating ever since
00:03:01
I don't think people kill people without some reason so why did he do it ma'am one of the absolute major major points
00:03:15
of the prosecution's case was the 911 call from the daughter [Music] Jenna newlander was important to the
00:03:25
prosecution and the defense because she was the only other person in the house at the time of these events
00:03:32
[Music] thank you foreign [Music] [Music] [Music] home on the morning of September 17
00:04:31
2012. a disturbing scene was unfolding as 23 year old Jenna newlander frantically called 911
00:04:54
[Applause] Jenna's father Dr Robert newlander had screamed to her for help he said he just
00:05:02
found his wife on the floor of the bathroom shower within minutes paramedics arrived at the
00:05:09
house 61-year-old Leslie newlander had suffered a massive head wound she was pronounced dead at the scene you get a
00:05:19
call fall in the shower you show up expecting to see the accident victim near the shower that's right the
00:05:26
expectations are that she's going to be there in the shower or immediately right
00:05:31
outside the shower instead former DeWitt New York police Sergeant Scott caprel found Leslie in
00:05:38
the bedroom on the floor close to the bed I walk into the actual bedroom and that's when I catch all the blood caprel
00:05:46
noticed blood in different areas of the bedroom pooled on the rug and spattered on the wall next to the bed
00:05:54
my radar is going off as far as saying oh we need to answer while this blood is here
00:06:00
capral had plenty of questions but Dr newlander seemed to have all the answers telling investigators that after finding
00:06:09
Leslie on the shower floor he carried her out of the bathroom some 60 feet into the bedroom where he could more
00:06:17
comfortably perform CPR [Applause] [Music] something he did despite Jenna's protests as he's relaying the story
00:06:29
about what had occurred and as the medical examiner is digesting it and as we're all digesting it his actual story
00:06:37
of step-by-step process fit the pattern of where you saw these different pools of blood
00:06:44
the medical examiner on the scene examined Leslie's injuries and ruled they matched up with Dr newlander's
00:06:51
account the death a tragic accident Leslie newlander died from hitting her head on the shower bench the whole thing
00:07:00
was was uh the whole thing was out of uh character with a fall in the shower you've been a cop 20 years had you ever
00:07:07
seen head trauma like that before well not from a fall but as we're listening to the medical examiner explain what
00:07:14
what he feels could have happened you know we're not Physicians we're not forensic Pathologists we're police
00:07:20
officers we're investigators so we certainly defer to him the account of Jenna newlander an eyewitness
00:07:30
actually carrying seemed to back up the medical examiner's ruling that this was an accident when police interviewed her
00:07:37
as part of their routine investigation [Music] the death of Leslie newlander shook the
00:07:48
community everyone knew the newlanders Mary Jim Bellic was a good friend of the new
00:07:55
Landers they seemed like the perfect couple the perfect marriage the perfect family really Leslie was a fabulous
00:08:01
woman very vivacious energetic unpretentious she was switched on yes I know people always speak well of the
00:08:10
dead but truly this was her personality to be so giving and alive Leslie and Bob gave generously both
00:08:19
their time and money they were well known for their philanthropy their social prominence dovetailed with Robert
00:08:27
newlander's professional standing one of the most highly regarded gynecologists and Obstetricians in the Syracuse area
00:08:34
he delivered a lot of babies around here many many with a lot of good feelings toward the care he gave those patients
00:08:42
for many many years my interactions with Dr newlander were joyful were these wonderful things that were happening and
00:08:49
welcoming their baby becoming a family Julie Crosby who worked with Dr newlander assisting pregnant women says
00:08:57
patients were drawn to his supportive demeanor I found Dr new later to be compassionate kind knowledgeable
00:09:05
that caring way say those who knew them best was a defining value for this tightly knit family
00:09:13
the closeness is plain to see in these birthday tributes for Robert and Leslie made by their children Emily and Brian
00:09:20
from Robert's first marriage and Ari and Jenna from Leslie and Robert's 28-year marriage mixed with loving teasing for
00:09:28
their mother how did everyone know I'm from New York I don't understand how does everyone know I'm from New York is
00:09:37
a deep appreciation thank you for being you I love you the newlander's thoughtfulness was
00:09:44
something very Jim Bellic experienced firsthand after becoming Gravely ill with an infection while on vacation in
00:09:51
the Czech Republic in the summer of 2012. I was in a coma and then in the hospital for three weeks
00:09:58
when she finally returned home the first neighbors to check on her were the newlanders I remember hugging everybody
00:10:06
and I remember Leslie saying we're so glad that you made it just two days later Mary received the
00:10:14
devastating news Leslie was dead a freak accident she'd slipped in the shower I couldn't believe
00:10:22
that she had just been to see me and tell me how grateful she is that I'm alive and she's dead it was shocking it
00:10:31
was overwhelming what did you think about that well at the time I thought I guess
00:10:37
that can happen even to a 61 year old very healthy athletic person that was the same conclusion
00:10:46
Onondaga County district attorney Bill Fitzpatrick reached when he first heard about Leslie's death he believed it was
00:10:53
a tragic accident until a few months later when a tip changed everything I'm gonna get to the bottom of this
00:11:08
[Music] um three months after Leslie newlander's sudden death Mary Jim bellick began
00:11:22
getting some unusual calls from Friends what are they saying we don't think it was an accident and who better to share
00:11:31
their concerns with than a forensic scientist for 11 years Dr Mary chumbelic was the County's chief medical examiner
00:11:39
until she retired in 2009. my focus for my entire career has been to speak for the dead Dr Jim Bellic
00:11:49
listened carefully there were questions about all that blood and whispers about the newlander's personal life are you
00:11:56
hearing about a troubled marriage yes are you hearing about financial problems yes in recent years Dr newlander's
00:12:06
thriving practice had been derailed by a battle with an insurance company and he
00:12:10
was now delivering half the number of babies he did previously Dr Jim Bellic was reluctant to get
00:12:18
involved but she finally picked up the phone and called her old colleague D.A Bill Fitzpatrick did you feel in some
00:12:25
way you were betraying the newlanders I felt I was responding to gossip as it turns out the D.A had also been
00:12:35
hearing things he'd received an anonymous letter just before Jim bellick's call suggesting a different
00:12:42
side to Dr newlander that he's not the you know the good guy that that people are making him out to be Leslie was
00:12:50
trying to break away from this guy Jim bellick's initial Hope was she could soon put all the speculation to rest and
00:12:58
she volunteers you know pro bono to take a look at the case and would I make the
00:13:03
file available to her and I said absolutely as you began to look at this file what jumped out at you
00:13:08
the severity of the injuries compared to the explanation Leslie had suffered a penetrating wound
00:13:16
toward the back of her head so severe the blood pulled in her eye had you seen head wounds like this
00:13:24
before of course in what kind of cases car accidents Falls from you know 20-story building
00:13:36
beatings what might cause this kind of injury a heavy object of some sort you're talking about getting
00:13:44
hit with some object yes what do you tell the district attorney after reviewing the file that this is a
00:13:51
homicide blunt had Trauma from an assault half a year after Leslie newlander's death the investigation picked up steam
00:14:01
police Revisited the death scene to collect more evidence from the now unoccupied new Lander home which had
00:14:08
been sold one of the things we find is blood all over the back of a headboard on the bed we also found blood spatter
00:14:15
on the blinds that were behind the bed Dr newlander was living in a new apartment which was also searched by now
00:14:23
he had retained one of the best criminal defense lawyers in the city Edward Menken this has been an Open Secret and
00:14:30
a subject of gossip and irresponsible rumor now for months Dr newlander has not been charged with any kind of
00:14:38
offense men can assured the D.A his client had nothing to hide so much so that 15
00:14:45
months after Leslie's death Dr newlander now retired voluntarily sat for an interview with prosecutors and
00:14:53
investigators even acknowledging there had been problems in their marriage but you were sleeping separately okay
00:15:01
what was the reason for that uh we had thought about a trial separation yet Robert newlander portrays the home
00:15:10
as peaceful and loving despite the issues in their marriage the night before Leslie died the couple along with
00:15:18
their son Ari and daughter Jenna had a family dinner at a friend's home after Ari headed back to his college dorm and
00:15:26
Jenna went back home with her parents said goodnight to each other and we loved each other and everybody
00:15:34
went to their prospective bedrooms Dr newlander tells the D.A that early the next morning he went for a jog at a
00:15:42
nearby State Park Green Lakes and then brought Leslie her usual cup of morning coffee when he got back
00:15:50
shower is on I hear the water running and I place it on the nightstand about an hour later he says he returned to
00:15:59
check on Leslie and there she was lying on the shower floor Dr newlander says he started CPR and
00:16:09
tried to call 9-1-1 but the bathroom phone wasn't working so he ran toward Jenna's bedroom yelling for her to call
00:16:16
9-1-1 the time 8 25 am my mother's I don't know if she's breathing but she's laying on the ground
00:16:24
in the shower he said he then went back to Leslie and began to move her he says he can't see the lighting is not very
00:16:33
good in the bathroom he then put Leslie down just outside the bathroom to give her mouth to mouth
00:16:42
before moving her again [Applause] I don't know at what age we all learn that you don't move somebody with a
00:16:55
serious head or neck injury but we all know it and here's a guy that's been practicing medicine for 30 years finally
00:17:02
Dr newlander says he placed his wife next to the bed to continue CPR there's you know more red flags than a bullfight
00:17:11
going off in my head when I hear that story for the first time Fitzpatrick develops his own theory that hours
00:17:17
before that 9-1-1 call Dr newlander assaulted his wife in the bedroom and then likely chased her into the bathroom
00:17:25
I think that he struck her on that shower bench she may have already been in the process of dying at that point
00:17:32
Fitzpatrick believes new Lander made up the story of finding Leslie in the shower and called for Jenna so he'd have
00:17:39
a witness as he carried his wife back to the bedroom what do you think he was doing when he was moving her I think now
00:17:46
he has got to explain the bloodstream well from The Assault that took place in the bedroom that eventually made its way
00:17:53
into the bathroom and he's got to do it in reverse he had to move that body himself
00:17:58
to explain that blood as for the blood spattered in the bedroom the D.A believes Dr newlander
00:18:05
didn't realize some of it was there because the violence took place before the sun was up and don't forget he's
00:18:12
committing this crime it's dark he doesn't know where all the blood is but if Leslie newlander was attacked in
00:18:19
her bedroom why were the sheets nearly pristine the new Landers longtime housekeeper provided a clue to
00:18:27
investigators she looked at the bed and got upset and said those are not the sheets that were on that bed that Friday
00:18:33
she was very confident of that the D.A believes that Dr newlander got rid of the sheets and the weapon on that
00:18:41
alleged morning run I think the murder weapon is at the bottom of Green Lake somewhere along with the missing sheets
00:18:48
with evidence now mounting the medical examiner changed his original report from accidental death
00:18:55
to homicide nearly two years after Leslie newlander's death her husband Dr Robert newlander was charged with her
00:19:04
murder the defendant moved the body of Leslie newlander after her death to make it
00:19:11
appear as if she had died from an accidental fall in the shower but Dr newlander's family says
00:19:17
Fitzpatrick has it all wrong Leslie's own children Stand United with the man accused of murdering their mother
00:19:26
[Music] what do you think created that trail of blood an expert explains the science of
00:19:33
blood spatter on Facebook at 48 hours [Music] in March of 2015 two and a half years
00:19:52
after the death of Leslie newlander high drama was about to unfold in the Onondaga County Courthouse
00:19:59
it has all the elements the rich defendant a beautiful wife and the Mystery surrounding it was it an
00:20:07
accident was it a homicide so it's huge it was huge for this community Not only was a prominent doctor on trial but two
00:20:14
of Syracuse's top trial lawyers were squaring off to determine his guilt or innocence
00:20:20
people were stopping you on the street you know if it's uh how's it look or go get them or I hope you lose I have never
00:20:28
had a client whose innocence I believe in more firmly than him Ed menkin spoke to local reporters but declined our
00:20:37
request for an interview if either one of them finds blood in the water they go right for it we asked
00:20:44
retired local attorney Jim Stevens to explain the defense's case he's a CBS News consultant who attended the trial
00:20:51
it was going to be riveting it was a top-notch trial all the way around each day in court began with the same
00:20:59
scene in the hallways free on a hundred thousand dollars bail the doctor would arrive flanked not only by his children
00:21:07
but by Leslie's sister and brother he didn't do it that's the message he didn't do it was not a crime the state
00:21:16
has bigger hurdles to contend with than just images prosecutors have no weapon and no
00:21:23
clear-cut motive is it risky to go to a jury without those things sure sure they
00:21:30
I mean the jurors you know they're not any different than you and I they want they want answers Fitzpatrick believes
00:21:36
the evidence like the blood spatter in the bedroom will tell the jury that this was no accident and he's Enlisted the
00:21:43
help of forensic scientist Karen Greene to make his case blood stains can tell you a lot they can tell you a lot and
00:21:51
they're associated with just about every crime scene that we go to there were no cameras in the courtroom
00:21:56
so we asked green to take us through her blood spatter analysis there was spatter
00:22:01
on the headboard there was spatter on items on the nightstand just south of the bed it's better on the blinds above
00:22:08
the bed and there were spatter on the south wall that was about seven feet to the south of the bed tell us about the
00:22:15
South Wall we've been referencing it what are the two spotters that are marked sbd1 that's an area where we saw
00:22:22
over 100 spatter stains the prosecution contends the spatter was primarily something called impact spatter created
00:22:31
when Leslie was attacked in the bedroom to better understand the terminology we built a set and supplied Karen green
00:22:39
with Stage blood to give us a rudimentary lesson when we talk about impacts better what does that mean
00:22:46
impact spatter is force applied to liquid blood so I'm going to pour some of our artificial blood here into my
00:22:53
hand and I'm going to punch it and that's Force going into a blood Source the force impacts the blood and the
00:23:00
blood spatters yes and then the blood breaks up into smaller drops it's impact that's one way blood gets
00:23:12
out you can see how it's it's radiating out we have some smaller stains with some
00:23:18
directionality up to the top for the newlander case green conducted various experiments trying to recreate the
00:23:25
spatter in the bedroom going so far as placing a rock covered in plastic and a wig on a bed to simulate Leslie's head I
00:23:34
had a location that was similar to the new Lander bedroom with the slanted ceiling I used all the measurements that
00:23:40
were in the scene the approximate height of the bed I had a nightstand and then I
00:23:46
put liquid blood and I impacted it I just had to verify that an impact on or near the South side of the bed could
00:23:55
create spatter six to seven feet away in the same distribution and could it I was
00:24:00
able to recreate with an impact event an impact scenario all of this batter that I saw in this
00:24:07
bedroom but the defense mocked Green's methods and said they amounted to nothing more than whacking a mannequin
00:24:14
over the head the defense had their own blood spatter expert he testified it was not possible
00:24:21
to determine if Leslie's death had been an accident or a homicide because the investigation had been flawed there were
00:24:28
not enough close-up pictures of the blood some of the evidence in question like the headboard and the blinds have been
00:24:35
collected months after the incident emergency Personnel had walked all over the scene in fact the defense suggested
00:24:42
that EMTs may have been responsible for some of the blood spatter First Responders probably had blood on their
00:24:49
hands and that the gloves were just peeled off and in so doing the blood flies from the gloves and you don't have
00:24:56
an impact but you have a cast off the defense also argued that the blood could have been cast off by Dr newlander
00:25:04
himself the doctor said he'd been wearing a long-sleeve shirt that became so wet and
00:25:10
bloody as he tried to frantically save his wife's life that he pulled it off those spatters by the bed were caused by
00:25:19
him removing a shirt Fitzpatrick scoffs at those theories pointing out that paramedics are trained to carefully
00:25:25
remove their gloves and that no gloves or shirt could account for the amount of blood in that room that doesn't explain
00:25:33
any of the blood it's a significant amount of blood the defense insists it was an accident and that there may have
00:25:40
been a good reason why Leslie newlander fell that morning she had vertigo a dizziness disorder Leslie's personal
00:25:48
trainer told the jury that Leslie's condition had grown worse and her sister Joanne testified that it ran in the
00:25:55
family and that she herself suffered from it the idea of her sister testifying is that
00:26:03
affecting your view of the case why wouldn't she be matter in hell and why wouldn't she be saying I'm
00:26:10
testifying for you what are you crazy you killed my sister to bolster their case of an accidental death the defense
00:26:18
hired Dr Daniel Spitz a medical examiner working in Michigan who's seen more than
00:26:24
his share of traumatic head injuries his testimony basically is the massive head
00:26:30
wound that caused her death was caused as a result of her falling in the shower against the stone bench if Leslie
00:26:38
sustained an injury in the shower by her head striking the stone bench what is this do for Dr newlander's defense
00:26:46
the home run but the prosecution countered that Leslie suffered at least two blows to her skull and that the
00:26:53
wounds were not consistent with their heads striking a straight edge like a stone shower bench it should be like a
00:27:01
simple linear fracture with some bleeding underneath of it but you don't get the complex depressed fracture like
00:27:09
this Dr Jim Bellic did not testify at trial but consulted with the prosecution Leslie's other injuries they say don't
00:27:18
add up to a slip and fall there were abrasions scrapes of the skin on her cheek bruising on her nose more on the
00:27:27
left side of the cheek as well bruising and scraping on her neck if she slipped and fell in the shower
00:27:33
why aren't there any injuries to her back or her legs her knees her elbows critical to the prosecution's case not
00:27:42
just how Leslie newlander died but when Dr Spitz estimated Leslie died around 7 30 A.M
00:27:50
but the D.A makes the case that her death could have occurred as early as 4 15 which fits his theory of a pre-dawn
00:27:59
assault the time of death is absolutely inconsistent with the defendant story there is now just one
00:28:07
more witness left to testify the doctor's daughter what did she see that terrible morning
00:28:14
[Applause] she was there she was there [Music] [Music] thank you the day that Jenna was to
00:28:42
testify The Spectators were lined up in anticipation of what she was going to say
00:28:47
two and a half years after Jenna newlander's beloved mother Leslie died thank you for being you I love you the
00:28:56
now 25 year old devoted daughter is about to take the stand to defend her father there was no doubt there was pain
00:29:04
in that courtroom when she testified she's trying to secure her father's freedom and she's dealing with the death
00:29:12
of her mother right I don't know how she got on the stand to do it she's the only
00:29:17
other eyewitness she was very very important to the outcome of this case on her fully describes the mother she lost she
00:29:29
was genuinely upset and mournful about testifying the testimony forced her to bring some memories to the surface of
00:29:39
her mother who she clearly loved very very much Jenna then tells the jury what happened in the newlander's home in the
00:29:45
hours before her mother died she says she was with her mom in Leslie's bedroom until 2 am
00:29:52
and Jenna clearly remembers the sheets on her mother's bed that night she says they're the same ones in the death scene
00:30:00
photos sheets the housekeeper said had been changed the changing of the sheets was a
00:30:07
significant issue and why would you change the sheets change the sheets because there
00:30:12
was blood on it no bloody sheets there's no impact event right on the bed it's perhaps the most critically
00:30:22
important piece of evidence I would not I it's like a house phone the later part of the 9-1-1 call Jenna
00:30:31
put the call on hold in her mother's office to get closer to the bathroom where Leslie was
00:30:41
both sides argue Jenna's cry there's blood everywhere is key and supports their case
00:30:49
to demonstrate the arguments we made an animation of parts of the newlander home
00:30:55
based on evidence the prosecution presented at trial the prosecution believes as Jenna was
00:31:02
running into the bathroom she passes blood here and here a trail of blood that could not yet
00:31:13
exist unless Robert newlander attacked Leslie earlier in the bedroom and then left her in the shower
00:31:21
she has passed the entrance to the bathroom where there's a significant amount of Blood on the wall that only
00:31:29
could have come from Leslie's head perhaps by being pushed against that wall or perhaps being chased the D.A
00:31:37
says Jenna then grabbed the landline phone in the water closet to reconnect with 9-1-1 and yells there's blood
00:31:45
everywhere he was born you're saying it's a big deal how she even phrased oh my God there's blood
00:31:55
everywhere that her mother's not part of that sentence exactly her initial response would have been oh my God
00:32:04
my mother's bleeding my mother's on the ground she would have referenced what she was seeing Fitzpatrick believes
00:32:10
Jenna drops the phone and the call captures seconds later the exact moment when she first sees her mom as Dr
00:32:18
newlander starts to carry Leslie's body around the corner out of the shower and into Jenna's View
00:32:26
it is then she lets loose a cry of pure anguish [Music] as painful as it is to listen to
00:32:38
it is inconceivable that that call is anything other than a declaration of guilt against her father
00:32:46
but the defense says the same call proves Dr newlander's innocence that when Jenna runs into the bathroom there
00:32:54
is no blood on the walls yet Jenna testifies she picks up the phone by the toilet drops it because it isn't
00:33:01
working while rushing to help her father they carry her mother to this area right
00:33:07
outside the bathroom and Jenna says it is at that point she takes a cordless phone from her mother's dressing room
00:33:14
and reconnects with the 9-1-1 operator in the defense view this is when Jenna sees blood on and around her mother this
00:33:23
is when she yells there's blood everywhere the defenses take on that is that her
00:33:32
mother is present in front of her and she's reacting to her mother the blood that's on her
00:33:38
mother and maybe Blood on the wall and on on the floor as well Jenna was asked on the stand did you see blood on your
00:33:46
way to the water closet correct she answered what she said no that supports the notion
00:33:54
that the first time she saw blood she was looking at her mother correct the D.A though doesn't believe Jenna
00:34:01
could do everything she claims to have done during the 13 seconds the 9-1-1 call was on hold Fitzpatrick tried it
00:34:08
himself and says it took him about 50 seconds it is not physically possible to do that in 13 seconds it's not even a
00:34:18
close question there is one other part of Jenna's testimony that may be crucial Jenna
00:34:26
tells the jury that as her father was tending to her mother in the bedroom she saw him take off a blood-soaked shirt
00:34:32
and throw it to the side now remember the defense suggested that tossing this bloody shirt may have caused some of the
00:34:40
blood spatter in the bedroom but the shirt has never been found [Music] there is a single witness that saw him
00:34:52
with a long sleeve shirt on other than Jenna if we injected Jenna new Lander with
00:34:58
truth serum and said did your father kill your mother she would say no I don't think in her mind Jenna believes
00:35:07
that her father did this I think she is created a protective World in her mind where Mom slipped and fell in the shower
00:35:15
[Music] foreign but the question now isn't what Jenna believes it's what the jury believes
00:35:25
I'm worried that they're having an emotional reaction to the agony of this girl [Music]
00:35:34
they know that this girl wants them to vote not guilty and they know that this 60 plus year old
00:35:42
defendant is unlikely to reoffend and all of those emotions can play to the detriment
00:35:54
of a case that has to be proven Beyond A Reasonable Doubt [Music] after eight grueling days of testimony
00:36:17
district attorney Bill Fitzpatrick addressed the jury one last time for closing arguments asking them to pay
00:36:24
close attention to the physical evidence specifically the blood spatter on the walls and the injuries to Leslie
00:36:32
newlander's body as I said many times in a trial Leslie will speak to you ladies and gentlemen
00:36:38
you have to listen to her and also to listen carefully to the words of Jenna newlander in that critical 9-1-1 call
00:36:46
everybody it proves his guilt Beyond any shot of the doubt but there's one thing
00:36:51
the D.A could not share with the jury what he suspects was the motive that sent Robert newlander into a murderous
00:36:59
rage that morning investigators learned from a friend of the newlander family that Leslie was
00:37:05
planning on signing a lease for a new apartment on the day she died Leslie was on her way out and this is not a guy
00:37:13
that can deal with that but this was not presented at trial Fitzpatrick says because the memory of that witness
00:37:20
changed she later said the apartment was for both Leslie and Robert Ed menkin strongly denies these
00:37:28
accusations and insists there was no motive in the summation he didn't just say not guilty he said innocent innocent
00:37:38
he said innocent throughout the jury would deliberate for three days before alerting the judge they had
00:37:46
reached a verdict Robert newlander returned to the courthouse once again armed in arm with
00:37:54
his family the pain etched on his children's faces two and a half years after Leslie
00:38:03
newlander's death the jury found Robert newlander guilty of her murder a heartbroken Jenna newlander broke the
00:38:12
Silence of the hushed courtroom crying out loud to her father I was there you didn't do it
00:38:22
let me know when everybody said I'm only saying outside the courtroom a visibly shaken
00:38:27
Ed menkin addressed the media Bob newlander is the most honorable person I have ever met this case has been a
00:38:36
travesty from start to finish it is not finished and so the newlander children turned to
00:38:45
attorney Gerald chargell legendary for his defense of mob boss John Gotti to handle their father's appeal
00:38:52
chargell wasted little time calling for a hearing to throw out new Landers conviction alleging there was serious
00:39:00
juror misconduct in the spotlight a juror named Jonah Lorraine according to an alternate juror
00:39:08
Lorraine had received texts and other Communications about the case during trial against judge Miller's orders not
00:39:16
to discuss the case a search of the accused juror's phone revealed she had received some potentially prejudicial
00:39:25
texts including one from her father which read make sure he's guilty but Weeks Later the judge upheld Dr
00:39:32
newlander's conviction pointing out the juror had been undecided in early stages
00:39:37
of deliberations and in the end the judge ruled she had taken her role seriously
00:39:47
almost four months after the verdict sentencing would finally commence [Music] with family photos on display the
00:39:56
newlander children returned to the courthouse for the first time all right cameras are
00:40:04
allowed in court facing a maximum sentence of 25 years to Life newlander's Family begged the judge
00:40:11
for the minimum sentence of 15 years Leslie's sister Joanne spoke on the Family's behalf had any of us even
00:40:20
slightly suspected Foul Play of any sort we would not be here today and then it was time for Robert
00:40:28
newlander to address the court my head is Unbound by the verdict of this chord for an
00:40:36
innocent man has been wrongfully convicted I would not it did not take a life I love my wife Leslie very much
00:40:48
and I mourn her every day now and forever the judge sentenced Robert newlander to
00:40:54
20 years to life in a New York state prison in the jury's lives Dr newlander you intentionally murdered your wife and
00:41:02
then attempted to use your own daughter to cover it up a daughter who most clearly adores you which is as
00:41:10
diabolical as a guess as Dr newlander is escorted out of the courtroom to begin his sentence Jenna calls out
00:41:21
the newlander children have now lost not only their mother but their father as well I I hate what this has done to
00:41:29
Jenna that's probably the most painful thing of all he brought Jen into that process
00:41:34
he made her a witness for his own purposes and that is cruel but Dr Mary Jim bellick knows she has
00:41:47
also played a role in their suffering do you have any regret about your involvement in this case
00:41:54
no this is probably the hardest thing I've ever done in my whole career however it was the right thing to do and I hold
00:42:04
on to that we are finally giving Leslie the acknowledgment of what happened to her
00:42:13
[Music] a popular dentist and his wife on an African hunting Safari the shotgun blast
00:42:43
killed her almost instantly he said she was packing her gun it boggles the mind of two experienced hunters for this to
00:42:51
have been an accident was there a motive what happened on the Safari 48 Hours next on CBS