Lawyer's Wife Was Beaten To Death

A coroner has ruled that the death of celebrity attorney Daniel Horowitz's wife was the result of a beating.

Pamela Vitale's body was found at the couple's remote home in a San Francisco suburb,

"The cause of death is listed as blunt force trauma to the head; the manner of death is listed as homicide," announced Contra Costa County Sheriff's Department spokesman Jimmy Lee.

Horowitz, a frequent commentator and defense lawyer in high profile murder trials, says he found the body late Saturday at the mobile home where they'd been living while a huge new house is under construction on their mountaintop estate.

Investigators say the case is wide open.

Horowitz's close friend and frequent co-counsel, Ivan Golde, told reporters, "Dan Horowitz is no more of a suspect than I am, (wife) Valerie is, or you (the press corps members) are. … Their worlds revolved around each other. They loved each other."

The killing had an immediate impact on the most sensational trial underway in the San Francisco area. The judge declared a mistrial in the murder case of Susan Polk because Horowitz is her defense attorney and jurors could be swayed by the death of his wife.

Polk admits killing her therapist husband but Horowitz contends it was self-defense.

Now, though, Blackstone said, Horowitz's focus is on the murder of his wife and the site of their dream house, which has become the site of their tragedy.

Golde says he doesn't believe the murder has anything to do with cases Horowitz has handled, but he isn't ruling anything out.

"This is a complete, thorough investigation that's occurring right now. … Every possibility will be examined," Golde

Golde worked more than 100 cases with Horowitz, including acting as co-counsel in the Polk case, "and I can tell you that there have been times that Dan has been afraid for his life."Golde told Smith that Horowitz has carried a gun: "At times, he had to. He carried a weapon and he has received threats over the years."

Golde says Horowitz and Vitale called each other "constantly," every day.

Horowitz says he tried to call her several times on Saturday, and Golde says Horowitz "voiced concern" when he couldn't reach her: "Dan called and called, no answer. He was concerned. But never did he think anything like this would occur. Never did he think he would arrive home and see his beautiful wife murdered."

Golde revealed that Vitale put up a fight.

"She fought for her life," he said. "It's just a very, very tragic, tragic situation. We are all grieving with Dan, with Dan's family, with Pamela, with Pamela's family."

Golde confirmed that Horowitz has had run-ins with Joseph Lynch, from whom Horowitz bought several of the parcels that now make up Horowitz's estate.

Golde said Horowitz had attempted to get a restraining order against Lynch.

"Dan made allegations," he said. "Dan wanted to make sure he stayed away from Pamela, his wife. Dan thought he had drug problems, mental problems, he was a troublemaker. … (Lynch) has been questioned, he is being looked at."

When Smith pointed to reports that Lynch is cooperating and that Horowitz and Vitale had helped him clean up his life, Golde responded, "(Lynch) has cooperated. That is true. He has to. If he wasn't, he'd be in custody."