LA_MERC_Yankee
February 26th, 2004, 07:46 PM
Caregiver charged with murder after bagel kills disabled woman
08:17 AM CST on Thursday, February 26, 2004
M.R. KROPKO / Associated Press
CLEVELAND - A caregiver charged with killing her disabled patient by feeding her a bagel meant the woman no harm, even though she was having an affair with the patient's husband, a defense attorney said Wednesday.
Wanda Kanner's attorney, Joan Synenberg, said during opening statements at Kanner's murder trial that she and patient Darlene Amberik "enjoyed a genuine affection for one another."
Amberik, 49, choked after she threw up pieces of the bagel into her airway, a problem Synenberg said was caused by loss of muscle control from her multiple sclerosis.
But prosecutor Dan Kasaris said Kanner, 49, who lived in Amberik's suburban home, knew the bagel could be fatal to Amberik, who could not feed herself or tolerate solid foods.
Police have said Kanner told detectives she soaked the bagel in milk to make it go down more easily.
The murder charge carries a sentence of 15 years to life. Kanner also is being tried for involuntary manslaughter.
Authorities initially believed Amberik's February 2001 death was an accident, until discovering a year later that her husband had bought an engagement ring for Kanner before his wife died.
John Amberik, 52, has been indicted on charges of theft and tampering with records for allegedly working with Kanner to submit false insurance bills, prosecutors said. He is not charged in his wife's death.
Kasaris said John Amberik's insurance for his wife's care was capped at $250,000 and only about $10,000 was left when Kanner told a neighbor that she expected Darlene Amberik would die soon.
08:17 AM CST on Thursday, February 26, 2004
M.R. KROPKO / Associated Press
CLEVELAND - A caregiver charged with killing her disabled patient by feeding her a bagel meant the woman no harm, even though she was having an affair with the patient's husband, a defense attorney said Wednesday.
Wanda Kanner's attorney, Joan Synenberg, said during opening statements at Kanner's murder trial that she and patient Darlene Amberik "enjoyed a genuine affection for one another."
Amberik, 49, choked after she threw up pieces of the bagel into her airway, a problem Synenberg said was caused by loss of muscle control from her multiple sclerosis.
But prosecutor Dan Kasaris said Kanner, 49, who lived in Amberik's suburban home, knew the bagel could be fatal to Amberik, who could not feed herself or tolerate solid foods.
Police have said Kanner told detectives she soaked the bagel in milk to make it go down more easily.
The murder charge carries a sentence of 15 years to life. Kanner also is being tried for involuntary manslaughter.
Authorities initially believed Amberik's February 2001 death was an accident, until discovering a year later that her husband had bought an engagement ring for Kanner before his wife died.
John Amberik, 52, has been indicted on charges of theft and tampering with records for allegedly working with Kanner to submit false insurance bills, prosecutors said. He is not charged in his wife's death.
Kasaris said John Amberik's insurance for his wife's care was capped at $250,000 and only about $10,000 was left when Kanner told a neighbor that she expected Darlene Amberik would die soon.