Retrial for New York man accused of killing wife, incinerating her body

Retrial for NY man accused of burning wife’s body

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — Prosecutors are presenting no major new evidence at the retrial of a New York man accused of killing his wife and incinerating her body.

Werner Lippe’s (LIH’-peez) first trial ended in a hung jury. The prosecution never found a body or any trace of one.

Monday’s opening statements showed that hasn’t changed.

Prosecutor John O’Rourke told Westchester County jurors the defendant knocked out 49-year-old Faith Lippe with a piece of wood and disposed of her in a burn barrel in 2008.

But defense attorney Andrew Rubin says Lippe isn’t the “evil genius” portrayed by the prosecution. He told the jurors there was no direct proof against Lippe. He says the 68-year-old defendant confessed out of fear.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (AP) — Prosecutors are presenting no major new evidence at the retrial of a New Yorker accused of killing and incinerating his wife.

Werner Lippe’s (LIH’-peez) first trial ended in a hung jury. The prosecution never found a body or any trace of one.

Monday’s opening statements showed that hasn’t changed.

Prosecutor John O’Rourke told Westchester County jurors that the defendant knocked out 49-year-old Faith Lippe with a piece of wood and disposed of her in a burn barrel in 2008.

But defense attorney Andrew Rubin said Lippe was not the “evil genius” portrayed by the prosecution.

He told the jurors there was no direct proof against Lippe. He said the 67-year-old defendant confessed out of fear.

(This version CORRECTS suspect’s age to 68, not 67.)