BDSM MEDIA NEWS!!!!
07 december 2011
Charges stayed against millionaire, dominatrix in alleged plot to kill wife
Source: www.thestar.com - The Star - Canada
CANADA - TORONTO - A diaper-clad millionaire cavorting with his dominatrix mistress. A dead witness in a burnt-out SUV. A “hit man” who never intended to commit murder.
One of the most bizarre cases to hit Toronto courts came to an abrupt end Monday after almost eight years, with yet another twist.
The Crown stayed murder conspiracy and counselling charges against multi-millionaire Alex Petraitis, 69, and his former dominatrix mistress, Sandra Rinella, 48, amid revelations that one of the case’s police investigators is romantically involved with the widow of the dead witness.
“I’m elated,” Petraitis said after walking out of court with his wife, Sandy. “I’m here on Cloud 9, absolutely shocked.”
Joseph Neuberger, Rinella’s lawyer, said the stayed charges have given “closure to a dark and desperate time in her life.”
Prosecutor Suhail Akhtar said little about why charges were stayed, except that information had come to light that may affect the Crown’s ability to prosecute the case.
Edward Greenspan, Petraitis’s lawyer, said he and co-counsel Michael Lacy believe it is no coincidence the move came the day they were to gain access to both Ontario Provincial Police Det.-Const. Claude Chartrand’s internal disciplinary records and the complete investigative file into the witness’s death.
Greenspan said he believes “there is something pretty explosive in that file.”
In court, Greenspan told Ontario Superior Court Justice Ian MacDonnell that Chartrand has moved in with the widow of the now-deceased key defence witness, Robbie Verch, and has withheld important evidence from the defence.
The strange saga - which included six trial dates and two mistrials - began in 2003, when Petraitis and Rinella approached her ex-boyfriend and onetime Hells Angels associate, Kerry Bob Anderson, to murder Petraitis’s then-wife of 39 years, Kirsten.
Anderson testified he never intended to carry out the plot, but played along to milk the millionaire for payments, netting more than $100,000.
In 2004, Anderson pleaded guilty to the attempted extortion of Petraitis and was sentenced to 6 ½ years in prison.
The defence maintains Petraitis and Rinella themselves were never serious about the plot; that it was simply an elaborate sado-masochistic sexual game in which the millionaire sometimes wore a diaper.
On the eve of the first trial in February 2010, Verch, 41, was found dead in his burnt out-Toyota Highlander near Eganville, the small town northwest of Ottawa where he lived with his wife and five children. Petraitis lives there, too.
The judge declared a mistrial while police investigated.
Petraitis’ lawyers believe Verch was part of a group, masterminded by Anderson, who approached Petraitis with an offer to provide evidence that would exonerate him if he bought some property for an inflated price.
The trial has heard four recordings Anderson secretly taped of meetings with Petraitis and Rinella in which the murder plot was discussed.
But the defence believes he held back other tapes showing the millionaire was innocent.
Chartrand was detailed to investigate both Verch’s death - in which foul play was eventually ruled out - and the alleged plot to offer Petraitis evidence for money, Greenspan said.
The defence was stunned to learn in September of the officer’s romantic entanglement with Verch’s widow, Greenspan said.
OPP Inspt. Dave Ross confirmed Chartrand was charged with discreditable conduct after he developed a “personal relationship with a potential witness in a criminal matter” and he has been removed from any related investigations.
His hearing is set for Jan. 11, he said.
Reached by phone, Chartrand declined comment.
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