Defense attorney tells jurors Ohio doctor accused of poisoning wife is incapable of murder

Defense: Dr. in cyanide case incapable of murder

CLEVELAND — A defense attorney says a doctor on trial in Cleveland in the cyanide-poisoning death of his wife is a loving family man who is incapable of murder.

Defense attorney Steven Bradley displayed photos of a smiling family and told jurors during opening statements Monday that Dr. Yazeed Essa (EE’-suh) had no reason to destroy his happy life.

Assistant Cuyahoga (ky-uh-HOH’-guh) County Prosecutor Steve Dever says the alleged 2005 plot was “evil at work” and intended to allow Essa to marry his mistress.

Authorities say 38-year-old Rosemarie Essa crashed her vehicle into oncoming traffic after taking a cyanide-laced calcium capsule provided by her husband.

Essa gave up a long extradition fight and was returned from Cyprus to Ohio last year.