Rabbi Gets Life

A jury spared the life of a prominent rabbi Friday, sentencing him to life in prison for arranging the murder of his wife.

Rabbi Fred J. Neulander, a founder of a large suburban Philadelphia congregation, was convicted Wednesday of capital murder, felony murder and murder conspiracy in the bludgeoning death of his wife. Carol Neulander was found dead in the family's home on Nov. 1, 1994.

A sentencing hearing was set for Jan. 16.

Prosecutors said Neulander hired a pair of hitmen to kill his wife for $30,000 so he could continue an extramarital affair with a Philadelphia radio host.

The penalty phase of Rabbi Fred Neulander's trial was delayed after the judge said that a TV network went too far.

Because the jury was still convened at the time to decide Neulander's sentence, talking to them was still off-limits to the media.

However, ABC's "Good Morning America" apparently did not get that word. They contacted seven out of the 16 jurors, which includes the 12 regular jurors and four alternate jurors. The jurors did not speak to the TV show.

The judge responded angrily when she found out the jurors had been approached, and then questioned all the jurors to see if their opinions were tainted or if being approached would have any effect on their verdict. They told her no, and the penalty phase of the trial got under way.

Neulander did not testify in the guilt phase of the trial, but he did ask the jury on Friday to spare his life.

In his 22-minute speech, he talked directly to the seven men and five women who would decide his fate and built his talk around a passage from the Book of Genesis focusing on the importance of using one's life to do good.

Carol Neulander's three siblings were in the courtroom and winced as Neulander talked about his continuing love for his wife.

While First Assistant Camden County Prosecutor James P. Lynch did not dispute the mitigating factors his lawyers presented -- such as his age and past contributions to the community -- he did tell the jury they did not have to believe the rabbi still loved his wife.

Neulander, 61, said he would help promote literacy in prison if he were not sentenced to death. "I beseech you, I importune you, I beg you for that privilege," he said.

One of his grown sons, two former congregants and a former associate rabbi also asked the jury to spare Neulander's life.

In 1998, Neulander was charged with conspiracy to murder and being an accessory to murder.

The charges were upgraded to capital murder after private investigator Len Jenoff came forward two years ago and said he and his roommate killed Carol Neulander at the rabbi's asking for $30,000.

Jenoff and his roommate, Paul Daniels, both pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter and agreed to testify against the rabbi. Both will be sentenced to 10- to 30-year prison terms, likely early next year.

Another key witness was Elaine Soncini, the former radio personality with whom the rabbi had a nearly two-year affair.

She said she met Neulander when it was suggested he preside at the funeral of her husband, Ken Garland, who died in December 1992. Soncini said as she was paying Neulander for the funeral he asked if he could call her, and the affair began shortly afterward.

Prosecutors said the rabbi snapped when Soncini said she wanted to break off their relationship. She also testified: "My increasing concern was that the man I loved had something to do with the murder of his wife and he was going to do it to me, too."

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