Handyman waives key hearing in Bashara death

DETROIT (AP) -- A Detroit-area handyman has waived his right to a key hearing in the death of a suburban marketing executive. The decision last Thursday means the murder case against Joe Gentz now moves directly to Wayne County Circuit Court. He is charged with strangling Jane Bashara, the Grosse Pointe Park woman whose body was discovered in her car in a Detroit neighborhood last January. Gentz worked for Bashara's husband, Robert Bashara. In a separate case, Robert Bashara is charged with trying to have Gentz rubbed out in the Wayne County jail because he feared Gentz would implicate him in his wife's death. Gentz' mental health has been under scrutiny, but experts say he's competent to face the charges. His lawyer has said that a plea deal has been discussed. Published: Mon, Oct 8, 2012