Man charged with tossing wife off cruise ship

[Hum]

SANTA ANA, Calif. ?  A California grand jury has indicted a Florida man on charges he strangled his ex-wife and tossed her off a cruise ship in Italy.

Lonnie Kocontes, 55, who used to live in Southern California, was indicted by an Orange County grand jury on Friday and did not enter a plea during his Superior Court arraignment Monday, the Orange County Register reported.

Kocontes remained jailed Tuesday. He is charged with murder for financial gain, which carries a potential death penalty and a minimum sentence of life in prison without chance of parole.

Kocontes will try to have the case dismissed at a June 26 hearing, arguing that local authorities lack jurisdiction to prosecute.

He and Micki Kanesaki, 52, divorced in 2001 after six years of marriage but continued to live together, off and on, in southern Orange County. They were sharing a cabin during a May 2006 Mediterranean cruise when she went overboard. Her body later washed ashore.

Italian police investigated but did not arrest Kocontes.

Another investigation began in 2008 after Kocontes began transferring more than $1 million from Kanesaki's bank accounts into joint accounts he held with his new wife, authorities said.

He was arrested in February and pleaded not guilty to murder in May, but the case was dismissed. Prosecutors then moved to refile the charges, and another judge ruled that they could proceed. Last week, prosecutors presented evidence before the grand jury and obtained an indictment.

source

[chrisj1968]

whoooo boy... :(

[Hum]

This is going overboard for a little money.

[Growled Member]

A California grand jury has indicted a Florida man on charges he strangled his ex-wife and tossed her off a cruise ship in Italy.

 

I think any divorced man can sympathize with him. :D

[Original Poster]

the US have no right to prosecute him... its down to the Italians ... US once again thinking they have rights to do what ever they want... this is the whole point of international relationships and treaties... they cannot touch him.

[+Raze Subscriber²]

the US have no right to prosecute him... its down to the Italians ... US once again thinking they have rights to do what ever they want... this is the whole point of international relationships and treaties... they cannot touch him.

 

He and his ex-wife are American citizens. She is a resident of the state of California.  A Superior court judge ruled they could proceed.  It has nothing to do with the big, bad ol' US.  The courts will decide.

[Original Poster]

He and his ex-wife are American citizens. She is a resident of the state of California.  A Superior court judge ruled they could proceed.  It has nothing to do with the big, bad ol' US.  The courts will decide.

so if i commit a crime in the US... its up to my court to decide what happens to me? 

[Chris123NT]

They charged him and the first case was dismissed, yet they tried him again for the same crime?  That falls under double jeopardy which AFAIK is not allowed in the US.

[episode]

They charged him and the first case was dismissed, yet they tried him again for the same crime?  That falls under double jeopardy which AFAIK is not allowed in the US.

Unless there is new evidence.

[Chris123NT]

Unless there is new evidence.

Ah right, ok that makes sense.

[YanksOnTop]

She slipped and I accidentally grabbed her by her neck as she was falling over but after holding on to her neck for 5 minutes I lost my grip and she fell...  :shifty:

 

Case closed...

[+Raze Subscriber²]

They charged him and the first case was dismissed, yet they tried him again for the same crime?  That falls under double jeopardy which AFAIK is not allowed in the US.

 

He was not tried, the case was dismissed before trial, no double jeopardy.  He has still not been tried, charges have been filed based on the new ruling by the Superior court judge, etc. 

[+Raze Subscriber²]

so if i commit a crime in the US... its up to my court to decide what happens to me? 

 

 

The alleged crime was committed at sea, I'm not sure about the rule of law regarding this situation.  As I said the courts will decided.  If you commit a crime in the US you will be charged and brought to trial if necessary.

 

I think you may be trying to make this something it's not, the US isn't trying to take over the world.  In fact this involves the state of California, not the US, there is a difference

[moloko]

He should not of choked her plus maybe some defensive marks.  Should of just pushed her. 

[Hum]

Ah, come on.  Every hubby should be allowed one. :shifty:

[FiB3R]

This is going overboard for a little money.

Nice :laugh: