Rabbi Retrial Moved to New Location

CAMDEN, N.J. March 15, 2002 — A rabbi accused of arranging his wife's murder will have his retrial moved out of Camden County because of heavy publicity surrounding the case, a judge ruled Friday. Superior Court Judge Linda G. Baxter said the media coverage of Rabbi Fred J. Neulander's first trial was fair. But she said the coverage was "so pervasive, so prevalent, so unrelenting that it would make it impossible to pick an impartial jury here."

A hearing will be held May 17 to determine where the trial will be held. Baxter said she will consider many factors in making a decision, including the convenience of a new location for witnesses.

Jeffrey Zucker, one of the rabbi's lawyers on a matter related to the case, said it would make sense to move the trial to Ocean, Monmouth or Middlesex counties. Those locations are out of the Philadelphia television market.

"If I were asked to give a preference, I'd say as far north as possible," Zucker said.

Camden County First Assistant Prosecutor James. P. Lynch said radio talk shows and coverage by Court TV helped to taint the jury pool in the area.

Neulander faces the death penalty if he is convicted of arranging the 1994 murder of his wife, Carol. She was found bludgeoned to death in the couple's suburban Philadelphia home on Nov. 1, 1994.

Prosecutors claimed Neulander wanted his wife dead so he could carry on an affair with a former Philadelphia radio host. Defense attorneys said Neulander may have been an adulterer, but he was not a killer.

A jury in November deadlocked on whether Neulander was guilty and Baxter declared a mistrial.

Last year, the lawyers representing Neulander tried twice to get the trial moved out of Camden County, citing extensive publicity. Baxter denied those motions, saying media coverage had been heavy but fair.

During the first trial, Baxter placed strict orders on the media, prohibiting them from talking to jurors, even after the trial ended.

Carol Saline, a staff writer at Philadelphia Magazine, was found in contempt of court and received a suspended 30-day jail sentence and fine for speaking to a juror during the trial.

Four reporters for The Philadelphia Inquirer are also facing civil contempt charges for publishing a juror's name after the trial concluded.

The state Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal of Baxter's order, filed by several media organizations.

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Author: 6-ABC