Judge mulls unfreezing assets of jailed Pa. doc
PITTSBURGH (AP) — A western Pennsylvania judge says he’ll rule in about a week whether to unfreeze the financial assets of a University of Pittsburgh medical researcher jailed on charges he fatally poisoned his neurologist wife with cyanide.
The attorney for 65-year-old Dr. Robert Ferrante wants about $2.2 million in several bank accounts made available to pay for Ferrante’s defense. But Allegheny County prosecutors are arguing the money should remain frozen — unless the court specifically approves defense expenditures — so Ferrante will be able to pay restitution or a civil court settlement if he’s convicted or sued in the April death of his wife, Dr. Autumn Klein.
Ferrante is charged with spiking his 41-year-old wife’s energy drink with the fast-acting poison.
Ferrante has denied that. The defense says keeping Ferrante’s assets frozen so he may eventually pay restitution is premature.