Sex Parties Topic Of Testimony On Day 2 Of Bob Bashara Murder Trial

DETROIT (WWJ) - On day two of the Bob Bashara murder-for-hire trial, prosecutors tried to establish that the Grosse Pointe Park man's sexual lifestyle was conflicting with his marriage in the months prior to his wife's death.

Bashara, 56, is charged with first degree murder, conspiracy and solicitation of murder in the 2012 death of Jane Bashara.

Key testimony came Wednesday from fellow BSDM community member, 45-year-old Patrick Webb. (BDSM stands for bondage, discipline and sadomasochism).

Webb said he first met Bob Bashara at a sex party Webb hosted, and the two became friends. According to Webb, Bob Bashara "liked to be in control" and wanted to be called "Master Bob."

Webb testified, that, eventually, it became clear to him that Bob Bashara's wife did not approve of his lifestyle.

"Did he use the words that he felt trapped in the marriage?" asked Asst. Wayne County Prosecutor Robert Moran.

"Yeah...he did say that; that he felt trapped in the marriage and he wanted to do more in the BDSM community," Webb said. "He wanted to do more with the lifestyle but he felt trapped with...Jane — with his wife. He didn't use her name."

In a later conversation, Webb said, Bashara got more specific.

"As people talked about divorce one night, it was let out that 'it would be cheaper to kill the bitch,'" Webb said.

Web testified that Bob Bashara told him he would often lie to Jane about his activities. "He was spending the night, and I said, 'What did you tell your wife?' And he said he was out golfing."

On cross-examination, defense attorney Michael McCarthy got Webb to admit that he might not have been very close with Bashara at that time; not realizing that his new friend was joking.

Also taking the stand Wednesday was Bob Bashara's former mistress, Rachel Gillett, whom he — in emails obtained by the prosecution — referred to as his "slave."

The pair had met on a BDSM website, Gillett said.

While courting her, said Gillett, Bob Bashara — who'd initially claimed to be a widower — painted a picture of a home life filled with acrimony, after she discovered he was married when she "Googled" him.

He told her, at one point, that he was separated from his wife, and "that he wasn't respected at home, that his decisions were questioned constantly," Gillett testified, adding that he expressed that he felt emasculated.

Bob Bashara's marital status continued to be a source of friction in their relationship; so much so that they broke up every three months or so, according to Gillett.  After one breakup, Gillett said, she came home to find him crying by her door.

Then came a gift, Gillet said.

"In late February of 2010 he gave me a ring," Gillet said. "...An old diamond ring."

Prosecutors say that ring was an heirloom belonging to Jane Bashara — one that she thought she had lost.

In opening statements Tuesday, Asst. Prosecutor Lisa Lindsey, said evidence will show that Bob Bashara and Gillett, in 2011, went house hunting to find a place where they could live with "another slave" — a second woman — to as part of a"BSDM fantasy."

The defense countered that, while stories about BDSM might pull people in, it has "had nothing to do with the death of Jane Bashara."

Authorities say Jane Bashara was beaten and strangled at the couple's Grosse Pointe Park home. Her body was left in a car in a Detroit alley. Jurors on Wednesday were shown photos of the crime scene.

Joseph Gentz, a handyman who confessed he  killed Jane Bashara under Bob Bashara's orders, is in prison for second-degree murder.

Lindsey said the evidence will show that, while Gentz "did the physical act" of killing Jane Bashara — and DNA will prove that — he did it under Bob Bashara's direction.

The trial is expected to last several weeks.

Meantime, Bob Bashara remains behind bars after he pleaded guilty to having tried to have Gentz killed in jail.

MORE: Prosecutor: Bashara Was 'Puppet Master' Who Arranged Wife's Murder
Continuing Coverage: Bashara Murder Trial