Byline: Carol DeMare Staff writer
Donald H. Bent of Watervliet, saying he was innocent and had been "sodomized by the system," was sentenced in Albany County Court today to the maximum prison term of 25 years to life for the 1986 murder of his wife, Joan.
"Life is never in the hands of an individual for destruction," Judge John G. Turner told the 55-year-old Bent as he pronounced the sentence before a courtroom audience that included children of Joan Bent and the defendant from former marriages.
A jury convicted Bent, now of Cohoes, on May 3, after a five-week trial of second-degree murder, finding that he intended to kill Joan, 47, who was …
I have the utmost respect for Dr. Michael Baden and his ability of discovering the truth when called upon by law enforcement agencies in need of his services as a leader in his field of forensic pathology.
ReplyDeleteDr. Michael Baden has proven to be completely objective when investigating a criminal case, regardless if his services were requested by the District Attorney or by the Defendant. He simply states the facts as they are, favorable or not. He is a rare kind in not changing the facts, regardless of intimidation, remaining an uncorrupt seeker of truth and justice.
With that said, there has always been a case that he worked on in the conviction of a man accused of murdering his wife 1986. The man accused is Donald Bent and the victim was Joan Bent.
I was surprised that an simple oversight was missed by Dr. Baden in this case... which proved critical in sealing Donald Bent's conviction as Dr. Baden's testimony was the only actual "proof" pointing to guilt.
Even today, I sincerely believe Donald Bent is innocent of this crime. Based on the circumstances, and even the stomach contents which proved as vital evidence, I am nearly certain as to what happened to Joan Bent.
Unfortunately, zoning in on a single prime suspect and having a credible forensic pathologist testify against the defendant all but sealed his fate.
I simply can't understand how no one saw the flaw in this "evidence". One mention by the defense would have raised enough doubt and with the combination with the other circumstances of the case, I believe the investigation would have led to another suspect... not Donald Bent.
Does anyone know of a way of contacting Donald Bent, (assuming he is still alive), or have contact information for his daughter?
~Susan Carroll
http://www.facebook.com/xsusanweb/
Who are you?
DeleteBut he confessed to killing her...
DeleteHey, weirdo. He confessed. He killed her. Eff Off.
DeleteSusan Carroll..YOUR RIGHT... Donald Bent IS A SCUMBAG
DeleteSusan Carroll sadly passed away on June 30th 2016 RIP
DeleteA relative of Donald Bent contacted me and informed me that he confessed to the crime. I'm relieved justice was served in this case as I feared the wrong man was convicted. I'm happy to know this wasn't so. :-)
ReplyDeleteYeh ... I'm just watching a programme on Youtube ... 'Autopsy' ... the guy's in court and he actually pleads guilty in the video.
DeletePeople confess to murders they have not committed under extreme duress. There are entire law firms dedicated to overturning said convictions. It's not unheard of.
ReplyDeleteThat does not mean I believe Mr. Bent is innocent, it's just a statement of fact.
WHY did Donald Bent murder his wife?
ReplyDeleteBecause he found out that she secretly filed for a divorce.
DeleteAnd, she was banging another guy.
DeleteShe was separated from her husband and had told him they were over for a long time; she allowed him to stay in the house because she felt bad, but he knew the marriage was done way before she filed for divorce and told him he would have to get out. Its not like she was stepping out on a husband in a marriage that was going well otherwise-she may have also dated the other man in an attempt to prove to her soon-to-be ex husband that they really were over. If he thought she was a terrible person for cheating he should have moved out and got on with divorcing her himself.
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