THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, May 6, 1995 TAG: 9505060297
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ANGELITA PLEMMER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines
A 46-year-old Deep Creek businessman accused of paying a man $4,000 to kill his wife gave his version of events for the first time Friday, denying any involvement in the Nov. 9, 1993, slaying of Helen Bedsole.
Clark C. Bedsole Sr., facing capital murder and firearms charges, testified in Circuit Court that although he often bought drugs from the alleged triggerman, Marlon D. Williams, he did not orchestrate a murder-for-hire scheme.
``I had nothing to do with my wife's death,'' Clark Bedsole said, his voice rising. ``I love my wife as much today . . . as the day I met her.''
Helen Bedsole, a 44-year-old C&P Telephone Co. employee, was found dead in her kitchen. She had been shot once in the head and once in the neck. Clark Bedsole was arrested after a police investigation revealed a history of abuse and violence in their troubled marriage, and after they obtained an audiotaped confession from the alleged killer.
During the 40-minute conversation secretly taped by police, Williams allegedly confessed to a police informant that Clark Bedsole paid him $4,000 to kill his wife. Williams said Helen Bedsole was going to take half of the Deep Creek businessman's assets in a pending divorce settlement. Williams also mentioned that Clark Bedsole, who owned Clark Electric, an electrical contracting company, would be the beneficiary of Helen Bedsole's life insurance policy, which was worth more than $100,000.
While Clark Bedsole denied the murder allegations, he admitted during testimony that he bought, distributed and used crack cocaine, spending as much as $300 a week. He also said he often traded cocaine for sex with women. He also said he committed adultery throughout his 23-year marriage.
``I would have rather reconciled,'' he said, denying any desire to hurt his wife. ``I would never have put my children through the hurt and torment they've been through these past two years.''
The Bedsoles had two children. They were undergoing their third separation at the time of the killing, Bedsole testified.
He said he had been granted custody of their son, Clark Jr., and Helen Bedsole was paying him $328 a month in child support.
Defense lawyers said the businessman had nothing to gain from the killing because the couple had already decided to divide their assets evenly. Robert Byrum, one of Bedsole's two lawyers, argued to jurors that the entire case was orchestrated by a police informant who was paid $5,000 to help police tie Bedsole to the case.
Police detectives ``stopped looking for the murderer and they started working on Mr. Bedsole to prove he did it,'' Byrum said during closing arguments. ``(The informant) is the only person who had anything to benefit from this.''
Commonwealth's Attorney David Williams, who is prosecuting the case, said ``Marlon Williams admitted on a tape recording . . . that he in fact was the one who killed Mrs. Bedsole.''
Williams said there was no other way the alleged shooter could have known about the couple's divorce proceedings and assets.
``Why in the world would Marlon Williams happen to pick Mrs. Bedsole?'' he asked jurors. ``There wasn't any robbery and there wasn't any sexual assault. How did he know where she lived?''
Jurors began deliberating the case Friday and will resume on Monday. Bedsole could be sentenced to life in prison if he is convicted. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Clark Bedsole could be sentenced to life in prison if convicted.
KEYWORDS: TRIAL MURDER FOR HIRE MURDER by CNB