Betrayal

A Computer Genius, His Russian Bride, The KGB, Intrigue And Murder

(CBS)  On the prosecution side, Alameda County Deputy District Attorney Paul Hora has his own problems. "I have to make sure that I can prove to the jury and convince them that not only is Nina not in the United States with her children, but she’s also not in Russia with her family and friends," he explains.

Hora begins his case by unveiling a portrait of Nina with baby Rory. "It's more important for the jurors to understand that she really was a committed, devoted mother and she wouldn't have left her kids," he says.

Then, piece by piece, the prosecutor methodically introduces the most incriminating evidence against Hans: the smear of Nina’s blood found on a post inside Hans’ house, Hans’1988 Honda missing its front passenger seat, and a wiretapped phone call between Hans and his mother that was recorded three weeks after Nina vanished.

On the tape, Hans gives his mother, Beverly, an earful about Nina. And whenever Beverly expresses concern about her daughter-in-law, Hans just does not want to hear it.

---

Listen to a condensed version of Hans Reiser's phone call to his mother, Beverly Palmer

---

"It was incredibly powerful to show his state of mind at a time when you would expect a man to have some compassion, or some sympathy for the mother of his children -- at least for his children. But he just had none. In fact, it was just the opposite. It was hatred," Hora says.

Hora then calls his first witness and it's a surprise: Rory, now 8 years old, and just off a plane from Russia. He is accompanied by his grandmother, who has decided the boy must tell what he knows.

Hans has not seen his son in more than a year and is overcome that Rory is so close he can almost touch him. "There was a point when he wandered over in my direction and it seemed like he wanted to reach out and give me a hug, and then the deputies stepped in between us and prevented that from happening. I’ll always think of that as the hug that almost was," Hans tells 48 Hours.

It is a dramatic showdown of son against father, and Hans is worried about the effect on Rory. "There wasn’t a lot of concern for his welfare. I don’t think he was even given psychological counseling after testifying," he says.

Jurors hang on Rory’s every word as he shows them a picture he drew just prior to the trial. Rory says it shows Hans carrying a big bag down the basement stairs.

Hans sees Rory’s testimony as confirmation that he’s been brainwashed by Russian psychologists. "Rory testified that he didn’t remember that until after he got to Russia, so that tells you something there," he says.

On cross examination, Rory sticks to the story he’s always told - the last day he ever saw his mother, she said goodbye and drove away from Hans’ house. On that count, Hora says Rory is wrong. "He wasn’t a reliable historian about what occurred the afternoon of Sept. 3rd."

[314Diva]

you can't predict what is in a persons heart....and you'll never know what will push anyone to kill....

[jbrauthor]

The sad moral to this story is as follows. Men bring an insane phsycial passion for the woman they marry or live with, and once that man's feelings and/or love is betrayed, that love and passion turns to the same level of hate. If I was 2/3 the size of a man, and only 2/3 strong as a man I certainly would not want to test his temperment by openly betraying him. Nina played an extremely dangerous game. She not only betrayed him, but then wanted full custody of the kids which only made Hans more angry.

[proveit2]

Insane? Pretend you''re him. Your best buddy marries this great lady and doesn''t treat her so good. You try to help and wind up in love with her. She files for divorce and wants to marry you, but she''s scared of losing the kids so she drops you for someone he might hate less. Then she disappears. You guess the worst. You know your old buddy''s smart, and he''s gonna try to pin it on you. You''re told you have to testify. You want to be left alone, but no chance. Your phone rings all day and all night, it''s driving you
insane?

[jbrauthor]

Surely, you jest by calling Nina a great lady. She betrays one husband, and them marries and stays with another husband who is a sado-maschchist. She had enough money coming in that she didn't have to be desperate and marry the first rich guy she met. She had less substance than the man who killed her.

[proveit2]

Insane? Think about it. You grow up with a guy, he''s like your brother, but he''s a jerk. He marries this wonderful woman. He makes the wedding a joke and asks you to help. He doesn''t treat her so good. You try to help and wind up in love with each other. She files for divorce.

Your old buddy now hates you. He''ll never accept you raising his kids. She''s so scared of losing them she hooks up with another guy that hubby might not hate so much.

Then she disappears. You know in your gut he killed her. You''re a wreck. You know how smart he is. He''s going to try to pin it on you. They want you to testify. You want to be left alone, but that''s not going to happen. Your phone rings all day and all night. The whole thing is driving you

Insane?

[carolcape]

This man is definitely a cold blooded killer. Just so cold that he murdered the mother of his children while they were in the house. He gives me the chills watching him and especially when he spoke in the courtroom. I think he is still a dangerous man. The other man that she went out with, creepy. He is actually a madman. I can see why he would be a suspect also. She must have been scared of him, I think. Why do these women always put themselves in danger. She was afraid of him, so why go to a secluded place with her kids. This madman would find a way to kill you, because he is desperate to do so. It happens time and again, just go over some of the 48 hour cases and it is a repeat. The guy that said he killed 7.5 people, a madman and he could have. Did you see his eyes, creepy ,creepy, creepy. Her husband is just where he should be, behind bars.

[jbrauthor]

Nina used awfully poor judgement with the men that she chose to be with. She should have put her kids first instead of looking for a rich meal ticket. She didn't need a meal ticket, she was going to make good money as a Doctor.

[roscoezzz]

This guy planned it. If he got caught he would make a plea deal to show the prosecutors where his ex-wife''s body was. It worked. He got a second degree conviction instead of first degree.
But, in time this guy is going to pay for what he did. What gets me is, if he was such a Genius. Why did he take the witness stand? He made a fool of himself. That spelled guilty right there.
That poor Russian woman. These American men she went with were sick and demented. The supposed best friend was just insane. Insane!

[jbrauthor]

Juries always want to her from the accussed, especially in a ambiguous case. His testimony did not convict, but his son's testimony did. Nina was a Doctor, who should have stuck to being a doctor and mother instead of trying to find a rich
American husband. if a woman betrays one man, she will certainly betray another. She played a most dangerous game and payed for it with her life.