Larry Rudolph, accused of killing wife Bianca on African safari trip, says unfamiliar shotgun accidentally went off

A rich dentist accused of capturing and killing his wife of their cabin on the finish of an African safari journey testified Wednesday that an unfamiliar shotgun they introduced with them to hunt a leopard accidentally went off, wounding her as she hurried to pack early within the morning.

“I did not kill my wife. I could not murder my wife. I would not murder my wife,” Lawrence “Larry” Rudolph informed jurors Wednesday.

His voice cracked at instances as he testified for over two hours about his open marriage to Bianca Rudolph and her demise in October 2016 in Zambia. He mentioned he was within the lavatory when he heard the shot and got here out and located his wife on the ground, bleeding.

Rudolph, 67, is charged with homicide and mail fraud in what prosecutors describe as a premeditated crime. He faces a most time period of life in jail or the demise penalty if convicted of homicide within the trial, which is being held in federal courtroom in Denver as a result of the insurance coverage corporations that paid him practically $5 million for his wife’s demise had been based mostly in Colorado.

Prosecutors allege Rudolph killed his wife of 34 years to be together with his girlfriend, Lori Milliron, who’s charged with mendacity to a grand jury and being an adjunct after the very fact. She is being tried alongside Rudolph. In opening statements, the prosecution informed jurors that Rudolph was overheard blurting out “I killed my f—g wife for you!” throughout an argument with Milliron at a Phoenix steakhouse in 2020 after he realized that the FBI was investigating his wife’s demise.

Rudolph denied confessing to his wife’s killing. He mentioned he and Milliron had been having an argument about their funds and the way the COVID-19 pandemic, then at its begin, would have an effect on the Pennsylvania dental franchise that had made him a small fortune. But he was irritated as a result of he mentioned his high concern was the FBI’s probe.

Rudolph mentioned what he really mentioned was “Now they’re saying I killed my f—g wife for you.”

After being near divorce twice, Rudolph mentioned he and his wife, who had two kids, agreed to remain married in 2000 however pursue sexual relationships with different individuals. He mentioned the stress of their marriage eased after that, describing themselves as “reasonably happy” of their association. Rudolph mentioned neither Milliron nor his wife issued him any ultimatums about ending his relationship with the opposite.

Rudolph’s lawyer, David Markus, has argued that Rudolph had no monetary motive for homicide. Rudolph was value greater than $15 million when his wife died and the insurance coverage payout went right into a belief for his or her kids.

Zambian authorities decided two days after the Oct. 11, 2016, capturing that it was unintended, in keeping with the protection. Investigators for the insurers who later paid $4.8 million reached the identical conclusion.

Prosecutors counter that proof exhibits Bianca Rudolph’s wounds got here from a shot fired from 2 to three.5 toes (1 meter) away.

Earlier this yr, Rudolph’s attorneys wrote in a assertion to “48 Hours” that the case is constructed “… without any real evidence, no eyewitnesses, no forensics, no anything.”

But Rudolph’s description of what occurred raises questions, says retired FBI Supervisory Special Agent and CBS News guide James Gagliano.  

“It boggles the mind that two experienced hunters, for this to have been an accident,” he informed “48 Hours.”