Killer Led Cops To Body For Lesser Charge

Software Designer Killed Wife But Maintained Innocence Until Conviction, When He Cut A Deal

(CBS/ AP)  Investigators confirmed Tuesday that a body a prominent software engineer led them to is, in fact, that of the estranged wife he was about to be sentenced for killing, pulling closer together the final pieces of a murder mystery.

Hans Reiser was convicted in April of first-degree murder even though Nina Reiser's body had not been found. Reiser, 44, showed police the body in exchange for the possibility of a lighter sentence, prosecutor Paul Hora said.

The deal would allow Reiser to plead guilty to second-degree murder, providing for a lighter sentence, but deny him the right to appeal. It still must be approved by a judge and was made with the support of Nina Reiser's relatives, Hora said.

"Now the family gets to pick the burial site, not the defendant," Hora said.

Dental records, jewelry and clothing helped confirm the woman's identity, police said. The cause of her death is still being investigated, they said, declining to give many specifics of what they found when Reiser led them to the body Monday.

But Oakland police Lt. Ersie Joyner III did say evidence from the grave, which was in a ravine in a park not far from Reiser's house in the Oakland hills, indicates Reiser did not have help. And Hora said the body was in a bag.

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Betrayal: "48 Hours" Investigates The Disappearance Of Nina Reiser
Watch The Full "48 Hours" Episode

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The disappearance of Nina Reiser, who was last seen on Labor Day weekend in 2006 when she dropped off the couple's two children for a visit with their father, had prompted a long and intense search, including the area where the body was found.

But Joyner said the grave was at least 40 yards from any path and probably would never have been found without Reiser's directions.

Reiser's defense attorneys did not immediately return messages Tuesday.

At trial, Hans Reiser adamantly denied anything to do with Nina Reiser's disappearance, and the defense suggested she might have run off to her native Russia.

Prosecutors said that was nonsense, pointing out that traces of her blood were found in his home and car. Witnesses testified she never would have left her children.

But as CBS' 48 Hours reports, after more than 50 witnesses and five months of testimony, the trial really came down to just one witness: Hans Reiser, who with a grin on his face, seemed more than eager to tell his side of the story. DuBois realized that having Reiser take the stand was a huge risk, but a risk Reiser insisted he should take.

But the first impression he made on the jury was a good one. "He was quirky and he was weird but he wasn’t that weird," one of the jurors noted.

Reiser was composed on the stand. In a matter-of-fact, unemotional tone of voice, he told jurors that on the day Nina vanished he saw her walk out the front door of his house, get in her minivan and drive away.

"It was the first time that he ever told anyone in law enforcement what had happened to Nina that day. The first I had ever heard of it, too," remembers prosecutor Paul Hora, who watched and worried.

"As a prosecutor, when a defendant takes a witness stand in a murder trial it's a critical witness because if the jurors like him and believe him, he's goin' home," Hora told 48 Hours.

But likable or not, the jurors didn't find Reiser's testimony believable, convicting him of the murder in April. After the conviction the defense approached prosecutors with an offer, Hora said.

The deal would allow Reiser to plead guilty to the reduced charge in return for showing authorities the body and giving up his right to appeal, Hora said. First-degree murder carries a sentence of 25 years to life, compared with 15 to life for second-degree murder.

That also means Reiser could seek parole sooner.

Sentencing had been scheduled for Wednesday, but Hora said both sides will ask that the hearing be postponed.

[edward1975-2009]

I guess this blows that living in Europe defense all to hell.

[cyberus-2009]

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Prosecutors contended the circumstantial evidence against Reiser was strong: The two were involved in a bitter custody dispute, traces of her blood were found in his home and car and witnesses testified she would never have left her children.
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Without prior behaviour showing that a woman doesn''t give a **** about her kids I am *ALWAYS* skeptical of claims of a woman just *walking away* and never being heard from again.

[minnick8-2009]

It seems that wife killing is either getting more common or the publicity about it is getting more common. Either way, it must make these men feel so big and strong and masculine to be able to over power the women they vowed to love and cherish. How hard could it be to snuff out the life of someone weaker and then hide the body? Wife killing is so much more efficient and easier than divorce and splitting assets.

With a sentence of 25 years to life, he will probably qualify for parole and get off earlier for good behavior. How nice for him.

I hope they all (abusers, wife murderers, child molesters, killers, drug pushers and slim bags in general) burn in hell. I hope I get to strike the match.

[smurfcrusher]

ninas51 has been reported as a SPAMmer, in violation of Terms of Service.

[bbrundj]

How horrid, and totally shameful. Must so many arguments and disagreements end up in murder? There are no words to explain why a person must take life from another, in ANY instance. It is so selfish and spineless. Terminal punishment is not even enough for a homicidal wretch, they should suffer berserk torture until the end. Sorry, but murder is an inexcusable act by an arrogant, vain creature.

[annia1233]

this man had everything, and what he was loosing was not much compared to what he has lost and what he has become. Intelligence has nothing to do with common sense. This man is the most stupid person and the brain with the lowest IQ on social behavior and how to handle feelings I have met in my life. I would say that he went to Russia to buy a slave. He got a refined intelligent slave. He saw the russian people as slaves to satisfy his needs and nothing else. I hope he will roten in jail or find one of those nice russian boys there that will make him his beatch

[formrusmcsgt]

This individual''s senseless act has left the children without both parents and, as if that in and of itself is not bad enough, the knowledge that one of their parents murdered the other.

What a way to start life.....

[deacon20081]

A Huge SHREDDER comes to mind for this guy. He is not sick, he knew Exactly what he was doing.

[juwboy]

Why do s-a-d-i-s-t-s like deacon20081 always slither out from under their rocks whenever stories like this are reported?

[honestabe8]

minnick: drug pushers only "push" to those interested in the drugs..unless you count the legal pushers who advertise to all...why do you want them in hell?

[standncount]

I hope they all (abusers, wife murderers, child molesters, killers, drug pushers and slim bags in general) burn in hell. I hope I get to strike the match.

Posted by minnick8

From what I read Hell is already on fire. Save your matches.

[noaanhc]

Divorce is always an option to murder,will never understand my own gender sometimes,just divorce her and accept whatever financial losses that may occur to you,so much more acceptable than prison.

Some men are just plain stupid.

[noaanhc]

A lot of women,probably more then men,take the
same road.
Posted by Nancy_Naive

I agree,so then I will re-phrase my comments

Some men and women can be so stupid.

[navyjimfl]

Divorce is always an option to murder
Posted by noaanhc

Not really......I know guys who have never married because they could not bear to give up anything if they got a divorce.....I know a couple of guys who stay in bad marriages for the same reason.....I guess some guys would rather murder their spouse then split the goods.......

[tbbaot]

Perp gives up body just before sentencing. I don''t call that remorse, He is trying to get himself a lighter sentence. Let''s hope the judge sees through that gesture.

[sassalin]

navyjimfl,

DIVORCE IS ALWAYS AN OPTION TO MURDER. If you are shallow enought that you can''t part with your money or material wealth then get a pre-nup or don''t marry. MURDER IS NEVER THE CORRECT PATH. Most end up losing everthing anyway...can''t take your money with you in jail.

[sassalin]

Nancy_Naive,

He didn''t get away with it...he had already been convicted. He was showing good faith before he was handed his sentence.

[nlm2383]

Good faith my ***...He was trying to prevent the death sentence. 25 years to life means he''ll be alive until he dies, much different than being put to death. I guess we can just hope it''s 25 years to life without the chance of parole.

[aldon61]

Good faith my ***...He was trying to prevent the death sentence. 25 years to life means he''''ll be alive until he dies, much different than being put to death. I guess we can just hope it''''s 25 years to life without the chance of parole.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by nlm2383 at 09:33 AM : Jul 08, 2008

In California? Get real! This guy will be walking around in less than 15 years. If he had done the same thing in Texas, he''d be sentenced to death.

[nolle61]

Come on. Let the guy go. He promises not to kill anymore people.

Are you kidding me? A lesser sentence for first degree MURDER?

I say fill the syringe with juice and let us get on with our lives.

25 years to life? What does the dead chick get?

[minnick8-2009]

drug pushers only "push" ...why do you want them in hell?

Posted by honestabe8

So, you are saying that no drug pusher ever got a child hooked on drugs?

[honestabe8]

minnick: i am sure that many drug pushers (legal and illegal) have gotten kids hooked. kids should not take any sort of drugs. but to say that "drug pushers" should end up in hell is absurd.

[honestabe8]

minnick: those that sell to adults, well, i got no problem with them.

[neenga]

"MURDER IS NEVER THE CORRECT PATH. Most end up losing everthing anyway...can''''t take your money with you in jail."

Nor can you take your kids with you. Their kids lost both parents because of his decision.

[neenga]

Interesting that these supposed geniuses think they can outwit the law. They seldom do. Must wreak havoc on their poor egos to be outsmarted.

[wangbang]

Every Linux distributor should remove ReiserRS and let this loser rot in jail in obscurity.

[mediabrat60]

Posted by Nancy_Naive;

Perfect name by the way.
Even if he did kill because of "irritation",
what is going to happen when his next wife irritates him? Or a girlfriend?

Once a person like that pushes past that first urge,the second becomes even easier.
Death becomes him.

[ccdsswrkr08]

Their kids lost both parents because of his decision --------------------------Posted by neenga


There you go...ANOTHER great reson to sentence him to community service! Those kids NEED a role model who can teach them right from wrong!

How can a Judge and Jury condemn Nina Reisers kids to a lifetime of orphanism???


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Posted by DaVicar2 at 12:01 PM : Jul 08, 2008

LOL

[oldone60]

He should be sentenced to use Windows ME for the rest of his life - worse than death!

[montanaman9]

Their kids lost both parents because of his decision --------------------------Posted by neenga


There you go...ANOTHER great reson to sentence him to community service! Those kids NEED a role model who can teach them right from wrong!

How can a Judge and Jury condemn Nina Reisers kids to a lifetime of orphanism???


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Posted by DaVicar2 at 12:01 PM : Jul 08, 2008

DaVicar,

You can''t be serious. The judge and jury didn''t do it, their father did when he killed their mother.

[jjarden]

There is ONLY ONE Punishment for this (But of course will never be carried out because there is NO Justice in this country - It''s a JOKE!) and that is a Public Beheading with a Rusty Axe on the town common.

[honestabe8]

jjarden: you would want to see this execution?

[jjarden]

honestabe8,

YES...Front-Row Seats...Oh, I know what you''re going to say...I''m Sick, I''m Demented, I''m this and I''m that.

Get over yourself...

The REASON WHY these Murders continue to happen EVERY STINKIN'' DAY in America is because we DO NOT have Public Beheadings on the Town Common.

I know...I''m SUCH a Barbarian...but with a 150 IQ Thank You.

[hamiltongrad]

Punishment and BLAME does not meet anyone''s needs, not the person accused, who acted out, or that of society. We need to learn to go beyond that which seems so primitive - what will do next tear out his heart on a rock at some ceremony ?
As a Internationalist I am against laws, jails and the terror of corporations. We have to learn to live with nature, not fight it.

[honestabe8]

jjarden: it''s amazing how much you get out of a simple question. of course, i don''t have the 150 IQ, so I guess you are just soooo much smarter. get over yourself

[honestabe8]

hamillton: you are against laws? i don''t understand how we can have a functional society without punishment of those who prey (in some cases, pray) on the weak

[apprxam]

"That''s right your Honor, not guilty." "I didn''t do it, didn''t do it, didn''t do it."

"Okay, here''s the body."

[apprxam]

As a Internationalist I am against laws, jails and the terror of corporations. We have to learn to live with nature, not fight it.


Posted by hamiltonGRAD

Is that what they''re teaching Hamilton? That sh(i)t is beyond liberal BS.

[gmond]

what a luser.

[barbaraf4]

"Punishment and BLAME does not meet anyone''s needs, not the person accused, who acted out, or that of society. We need to learn to go beyond that which seems so primitive - what will do next tear out his heart on a rock at some ceremony ?
As a Internationalist I am against laws, jails and the terror of corporations. We have to learn to live with nature, not fight it." Posted by hamiltonGRAD
~~~~~~~~~
I thought most of the communal experiments of the 60''s proved this to be an unworkable lifestyle.

[smurfcrusher]

FORMAT /screw; RussianGolddigger

[nothappyatall]

Well since the defense made the offer of having the jerk show the body that was an admission of guilt, they should have said no deal- your azz is in jail 25 to life

[toldyouso12]

And his lawyers probably knew he was guilty all along. The law is NOT about justice--it is about two sides finding the most loopholes to try to win the case--and even though they know their client is guilty--it is about some being so craven--that they would release or have this scum be free if they could get him off.

Then we turn around in all of our ignorance and hero worship and make people who think like this (both Obama and Hillary are lawyers)--politicians and think they have the morality or integrity to actually serve us. Do any lawyers even know what integrity truly is? Besides being something they can sell or manipulate?

[toldyouso12]

But I digress... Stupid geek. He`d gotten away with it. They`d never have searched the same area dogs had covered.

Sync, sync, sync.

Posted by Nancy_Naive at 07:06 AM : Jul 08, 2008

He got away with NOTHING. He only showed them where the body was AFTER he was already convicted. He could never overturn the conviction on appeal just because there was no body--so he cut a deal.

[toldyouso12]

Love the land sweeps of the search crew...only 40 yards away from a path and the search crews would have never found the body? Why the hell not? Do they only stay on the path, or follow the yellow brick road when looking for a corpse?

[toldyouso12]

Punishment and BLAME does not meet anyone''''s needs, not the person accused, who acted out, or that of society. We need to learn to go beyond that which seems so primitive - what will do next tear out his heart on a rock at some ceremony ?
As a Internationalist I am against laws, jails and the terror of corporations. We have to learn to live with nature, not fight it.

Posted by hamiltonGRAD at 08:26 PM : Jul 08, 2008


Okay, nutcase--if/when some sicko decides to tear you limb from limb in public (or does it to one of your loved ones) we won''t call the police. We won''t help you. According to you, we should just step over the two of you wrestling, ignore your screams and go get some popcorn. You are not an internationalist--you aer an idiot and someone forgot to raise your stupid azz.

[patriot12436]

newstert
The problem here is negoiations between defense and prosecutor are no admissable in court, the prosecutor could not uise it. I think the prosecutor made a wise decision. Now the family can bury their daughter and have closure. I think the judege will still rack him. His children will grow up hating him for killing their mother and he will neve see them again.

[patriot12436]

toldyouso12
I agree. Every time hamilton opens his mouth it makes me glad i didn''t send my kids to school where he went.

[patriot12436]

sbbm
Finally i agree withthe statement nancy made. This man is supposed to be a computer genious, he should be made to use his knowledge to help our govt while in prison. I think it is the least he can do to pay for his room and board.

[patriot12436]

Remember Lizzie Borden
Lizzie had an ax
She gave her mother forty whacks
When her father complained
She gave him 41