Judge denies Bashara's bond reduction request

DETROIT (AP) -- A Detroit-area man accused of trying to hire a hit man to kill someone charged with his wife's murder won't have his bond reduced. Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Bruce Morrow on Monday denied a request to lower Robert Bashara's $15 million cash bond. Defense attorney Mark Kriger previously said bond shouldn't be excessive and asked Morrow to reduce it. Authorities believe Bashara wanted to kill handyman Joe Gentz because he feared Gentz would identify him in the death of Jane Bashara. Jane Bashara of Grosse Pointe Park was found dead in her car in a Detroit neighborhood in January. Gentz is charged with strangling her. Robert Bashara has pleaded not guilty to a charge of solicitation to commit murder. Bashara says he had no role in his wife's death. Published: Wed, Sep 19, 2012