Murder defendant ordered held without bail
Judge Bertha Josephson ordered Cara Rintala, accused of first degree murder in the death of her wife Annamarie Rintala, on March 29, 2010, held without bail, without prejudice, at a bail hearing in Hampshire Superior Court today.
The evidence presented by First Assistant District Attorney Steven E. Gagne was compelling enough to justify that Rintala, who was arrested last week in Narragansett, R.I., be held without bail, Josephson said, although Rintala’s defense attorney may ask for another bail hearing after reviewing the case further.
The strength of the case is the crux of the Commonwealth’s argument that Rintala, 45, should be held without bail Gagne said.
Gagne added that evidence that Rintala attempted to cover up the crime by cleaning the crime scene and throwing paint on the victim’s body contributed to a long and arduous investigation.
In his presentation, Gagne described the relationship between the victim and defendant as turbulent and detailed the severe financial stress both were facing at the time of the alleged murder. He described several prior incidents of violence between the two, documented in police records, as well as details of the crime scene and the defendant’s activities on the day it occurred.
An autopsy determined that strangulation was the cause of death.
Rintala’s defense attorney, David Hoose, had requested bail be set at $100,000
A pre-trial hearing has been scheduled at Hampshire Superior Court on Feb. 7.
Rintala faces a sentence of life without parole if convicted.
Contact: Mary Carey
(413) 588-4274