Mass. doctor convicted in wife’s slaying seeks new trial based on closed jury selection

Mass. doc to testify as he seeks new murder trial

BOSTON — A once-prominent Massachusetts doctor convicted of killing his wife after she discovered his secret life of prostitutes and Internet porn will be back on the witness stand.

Dirk Greineder is expected to testify Thursday during a hearing on his claim that his constitutional right to a public trial was violated because the courtroom was closed as jurors were being chosen in his 2001 trial.

The defense will cite a ruling last week from the state’s highest court overturning the corruption conviction of a police officer because some of his friends and relatives were kept out of jury selection.

Greineder was convicted of beating his wife with a hammer and slitting her throat on Oct. 31, 1999, during the couple’s regular walk in a Wellesley park.

Greineder claimed his wife was killed by an unknown assailant.