Judge Rejects New Trial In Contract Killing

ASOTIN, Asotin County - Alleged romantic links between a murder trial witness and the prosecutor had no effect on evidence the jury heard, a judge ruled yesterday in rejecting a new trial for a woman convicted in the contract killing of her husband.

Asotin County Superior Court Judge John Lynden wrote that affidavits and interviews with the witness ``contain not a scintilla of inference'' that the alleged relationship influenced his testimony.

Lynden denied the motion for a new trial filed by an attorney for Susan Kroll, convicted in August of aggravated first-degree murder in the contract slaying of her husband, Victor.

Attorney Thomas Ledgerwood of Clarkston said Susan Kroll's conviction has been appealed to the state Court of Appeals. The issue of prosecutorial misconduct will be added to that appeal, he said.

James A. DeMean, 18, a key prosecution witness who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the slaying, claimed he was romantically involved with special prosecutor Sarah Wallace during preparations for the trial last August.

Wallace, 37, of Poulsbo is missing and presumed dead after apparently jumping from the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. Her car and a suicide note to her husband were found by police Nov. 24 near the bridge.

After slashing his wrist with a razor Jan. 5 in the Asotin County Jail, DeMean told police he was distraught over Wallace's disappearance. While preparing for the trial, the two had become romantically involved and had hugged, kissed and talked about marriage, he told police.

Lynden wrote that the alleged kissing and hugging occurred after DeMean had already given the bulk of his direct testimony and didn't affect his testimony.

The prosecution contended Kroll, 32, hired DeMean and Kyle F. Johnson to kill her husband at his home workshop May 17.