Jenoff Testifies Against Rabbi

A man who said he was paid by a rabbi to kill the man's wife told jurors Friday that his struggles with alcoholism led him to form a friendship with the rabbi.

On the 8-year anniversary of the beating death, Len Jenoff began his testimony in the retrial of Rabbi Fred Neulander. The rabbi is charged with arranging the murder of his wife, Carol, so he could continue an affair with a Philadelphia radio personality.

At Neulander's first trial last year, Jenoff said the rabbi paid him and another man $30,000 to carry out the killing. The jury that heard that testimony could not reach a verdict and a mistrial was declared.

Jenoff's early testimony Friday included details about how he met Neulander. Jenoff called getting to know Neulander an "enlightening experience" and said the rabbi hugged him after their first meeting.

Earlier Friday, Superior Court Judge Linda Baxter ruled that Jenoff can be questioned by the defense under cross-examination about his alleged involvement in another killing.

Jenoff's former cellmate said Jenoff told him he was involved in the unsolved 1995 killing of Janice Bell, of Voorhees. Neulander's lawyer said the case raises questions about Jenoff's credibility.

Superior Court Judge Linda Baxter said the questioning of Jenoff would be strictly limited so the trial does not focus on who killed Bell. The limits on what Riley can ask Jenoff were not discussed in an open court session.

The defense contends Jenoff and another man, who have both pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter, are lying about Neulander's involvement in the killing of his wife. His lawyer say the men went to the Neulander's home that night to rob Carol Neulander and not at the behest of her husband.

The retrial was moved to Monmouth County in an attempt to seat a jury that was not exposed to the heavy media coverage of the case.

Neulander could face the death penalty if convicted.

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