BANKER-SLAY WIFE'S AGONY

This DH's aunt & uncle. Here is the latest news from the NYPost.

March 8, 2006 -- A Long Island widow yesterday tearfully recounted the agonizing hours she waited and searched for her husband - only to discover the spot where he was gunned down for refusing to hand over the key to the bank where he worked.
"I can never forget that night," Elizabeth Gottlieb, a JPMorgan Chase employee, told jurors at the Mineola murder trial of Reginald Gousse, charged in the January 2005 slaying of James Gottlieb.

In a cruel twist of fate, another manager had actually been targeted for the scheme, in which Gousse rented a Ford Explorer, outfitted it with a siren and flashing light, and pretended to be a cop, Nassau prosecutor Fred Klein said. But that manager was invited out for a drink and Gottlieb became the focus of the murderous deception, Klein said.

He also said Gousse then followed Gottlieb from the bank, forcing him to pull over in Franklin Square on Jan. 5, 2005. He allegedly beat and fatally shot Gottlieb after the banker refused to hand over a key.

Elizabeth Gottlieb told jurors her husband called before leaving work, promising to be home in 30 minutes.

"I kept looking at the clock and wondering where James was," she said. "I wanted to go out to look for him because I thought something had happened."

Retracing her husband's route to work, the wife said she noticed some commotion and recognized her husband's car.

When someone told her someone had been murdered there, "I panicked." A cop then relayed the grim news.

Shown a picture of the battered face and head of her husband, Gottlieb grimaced in horror, gasped and then sobbed.

"Do you recognize that photograph?" Klein asked.

"Yes I do, It's my husband's picture," she said.

The photo is expected to be shown to the jury later.

Gousse has denied any role in the slaying.

Re: BANKER-SLAY WIFE'S AGONY

Re: BANKER-SLAY WIFE'S AGONY

I cried too reading the article.

Re: BANKER-SLAY WIFE'S AGONY

Re: BANKER-SLAY WIFE'S AGONY

Re: BANKER-SLAY WIFE'S AGONY

Re: BANKER-SLAY WIFE'S AGONY

I did not mean to upset everyone. I just wanted to give you all an update since you were all so supported when it happened.

Re: BANKER-SLAY WIFE'S AGONY

I hope the guy gets life in prison, an becomes someone's "girlfriend" for the rest of his life. I am so sorry DH's aunt had to go through this. It is so sad.

Re: BANKER-SLAY WIFE'S AGONY

Thanks. It is so sad and especially to be the first witness and having too see pics of her husband like that.

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Re: BANKER-SLAY WIFE'S AGONY

I'm so sorry for your family, Lisa..
I only hope this ba$tard rots in jail the rest of his life

Re: BANKER-SLAY WIFE'S AGONY

Re: BANKER-SLAY WIFE'S AGONY

I saw this on the news. So upsetting!!!

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Re: BANKER-SLAY WIFE'S AGONY

such tragedy

Re: BANKER-SLAY WIFE'S AGONY

Thank you everyone.

Re: BANKER-SLAY WIFE'S AGONY

I'm glad she was able to testify. I hope those jurors never forget her tears -- and the judge who passes the final sentence never forgets her testimony.

Message edited 3/9/2006 9:55:23 AM.