POLICE OFFICER CUT WIFE'S HAND TO FAKE SELF-DEFENCE IN KILLI

[Daanyeer]

Source: http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/186/ ... 39273.html

Millville police officer cut wife's hands to fake self-defense in killing, prosecutor says
By JOHN MARTINS Staff Writer,
Wednesday, March 25, 200




BRIDGETON — The prosecutor arguing the state’s murder case against a suspended Millville police officer revealed in court Wednesday that evidence suggests Sgt. Robert Vanaman cut his wife’s hands in the moments after he shot her.
First Assistant Prosecutor Ken Pagliughi said state Medical Examiner Dr. Lyla Perez is scheduled to testify about the significance of the “bloodless cuts” she observed on Barbara Vanaman’s hands during the slain woman’s autopsy.

According to Pagliughi, Perez is expected to explain how those cuts were inflicted “at or near the time” of Barbara Vanaman’s death on May 11, 2006 — a version of events that seems to contradict the police officer’s story that he shot his wife in self defense because she attacked him with a knife.

The subject of the “bloodless cuts” was raised after Vanaman’s defense attorneys complained to Superior Court Judge Martin Herman that the state was unfairly trying to introduce new evidence into the trial, which is slated to begin April 6.

Vineland attorney Joseph O’Neill, who is representing Vanaman with his law partner, Charles Coant, told Herman on Wednesday afternoon that he felt the issue of the “bloodless cuts” was a surprise. It was never addressed, O’Neill said, in any of Perez’s earlier autopsy reports.



“It is a new theory because it’s not explained,” O’Neill said.
Pagliughi, however, tried to convince the judge that Perez’s explanation of the bloodless cuts should be fair game at trial. Perez mentioned the cuts in her reports, Pagliughi said, adding that her opinion as to why they were bloodless should be obvious. “It’s common sense,” Pagliughi said.

According to Pagliughi, the cuts were bloodless because Barbara Vanaman’s blood pressure had already dropped considerably from the bleeding caused by the two bullet wounds in her chest.

Herman refrained from making a ruling on O’Neill’s complaint Wednesday. He ordered Pagliughi to get letters from both Perez and another expert witness — who O’Neill also said was introducing new evidence — that either explains their testimony or certifies that it will not include new information.

Robert Vanaman, 40, claims he shot his wife in self-defense after she attacked him with a knife during a domestic dispute inside the kitchen of their Wedgewood Court home in Millville.

Prosecutors, however, said they believe Robert Vanaman’s defensive wounds were superficial and likely self-inflicted. Jury selection in the trial started Monday, and attorneys have made significant progress in seating a jury. Only one seat on the 15-member panel remains unfilled.

Herman excused the 14 potential jurors at midafternoon Wednesday so attorneys could argue about O’Neill’s complaint. According to O’Neill, his concerns stem from two letters he received from Pagliughi — one March 11 and the other Monday — that summarized the testimony of the experts the state plans to call to the stand.

O’Neill told Herman he didn’t bring up the issue sooner because both he and Coant have been occupied with the ongoing jury selection. They found cause for alarm in Pagliughi’s letters only recently, O’Neill added.

“Now it’s gotten to the point where enough is enough,” O’Neill said.

Herman said he would give the state an opportunity to explain why the evidence O’Neill is contesting should be allowed at trial. He ordered Pagliughi to try to secure those letters by Friday.

“The issue, gentlemen, is justice. Bottom line,” Herman said. “The issue is fair play.”

Herman is also slated to interview another round of prospective jurors this morning.