A man has been charged with killing his bride nearly 45 years ago.
The death in 1973 of 19-year-old Noreen Kumeta Rudd was first considered to be the result of car crash injuries, and her new husband Donnie Rudd was found cradling her body at the site of the crash.
But more than four decades later, Donnie Rudd, now 76, was charged with killing his bride and setting it up to look like a traffic accident. His murder trial opened in Cook County Tuesday with testimony from the police officer, family members and a retired emergency room physician.
In opening statements, prosecutors sought to paint Rudd as a persuasive and manipulative attorney who led a double life.
They said that though Rudd was living with a girlfriend and her four children, he courted and then married Noreen Kumeta — who died less than a month later — because he was feeling financial pressure and wanted to collect on insurance that would pay him more than $100,000 if she died accidentally.
“The defendant didn’t marry Noreen because he loved her,” Assistant State’s Attorney Maria McCarthy said. “He married her because he wanted to kill her.”
McCarthy said that after Noreen’s death, Rudd immediately returned to his girlfriend, Dianne Hart.
“He was there (at Hart’s home) the day of the funeral,” McCarthy said.
Defense attorney Timothy Grace countered that Noreen Rudd was killed in a “tragic accident” and that the cause of death, as listed on an emergency room report, was a fracture to her cervical spine.
There is no evidence that Rudd knew anything about his wife’s insurance policies, Grace said. The defense attorney denied that Rudd was leading a double life, saying Rudd was simply “cheating on his girlfriend.” He said Rudd married Noreen Kumeta on impulse.
“They fell in love. It was an impulsive act,” Grace told the jury.
Prosecutors believe Noreen died from multiple blows to her head.
Testimony is due to continue Wednesday. Unlike many murder defendants, Rudd has been free while awaiting trial, having put up $400,000 in bail money.
NY Daily News
Emeh Achanga,the CEO of the Miss Petite Nigeria Brand is a lawyer turned blogger. She is very passionate about writing, with several publications and awards to her credit .She is currently working on publishing a collection of short stories which are basically a memoir about her exciting true experiences.
