Crime & Safety

Hearing for Morristown man Accused of Drowning Wife in Bathtub Delayed Until Sept. 7

Judge said a separate, off-the-record issue has led to a delay in proceedings.

Witness intimidation could potentially be a factor in legal proceedings surrounding Kleber Cordova, who is accused of drowning his wife in a bathtub in a Western Avenue apartment two years ago.

Judge Thomas V. Manahan, who is presiding over a Miranda hearing in the matter, said in court Thursday he had been informed that Cordova's family members had contacted the sister and mother of Eliana Torres, who was found dead in the bathtub at 85 Western Ave. on May 9, 2008.

Assistant Prosecutor Maggie Calderwood said a family member of Cordova's had requested from Torres's sister and mother that Cordova's eight-year old daughter, Kelly, not testify in the matter.

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In a tape of a May 10, 2008 interview played in court Tuesday during the Miranda hearing, Morris County Prosecutor's Office Detective David Frisk said to Cordova he had spoken with Cordova's daughter, who had told him she had witnessed a fight between her parents. Frisk said his daughter had told him her mother's hands were at one point clawing at Cordova's face. That story did not match up with Cordova's.

"Why would Kelly say that?" Frisk asked in the video.

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Cordova said in the video that he did not know.

Calderwood said Cordova's family members had threatened to not give his daughter property in Ecuador—Cordova's home country—they had intended to give her unless Torres's mother and sister made sure his daughter did not testify. Calderwood also said Cordova's family members wanted Torres's family members to help get Cordova out of jail.

Manahan said he hoped it was clear to Cordova that he was not allowed to contact anyone regarding the matter, and was not allowed to be the catalyst for anyone making contact with a potential witness in a way that could affect testimony in an upcoming trial.

If he did either of those things, Manahan said, he could potentially be subject to a new charge of witness tampering.

"Mr. Cordova," Manahan said as he addressed the defendant directly. "I need you to understand that from me."

Cordova said through an interpreter in court that he understood. He speaks only Spanish.

Defense attorney Jessica Moses said she had advised Cordova that he could not contact potential witnesses.

"It's a serious case, and this is a serious issue," she said.

Only about half of the tape from the May 10, 2008 interview with Cordova had been shown in court on Tuesday, and Manahan had said the tape would continue to be played Thursday.

But Manahan said there was a separate, off-the-record issue that had come up that required the Miranda hearing to be adjourned until Sept. 7. Attorneys said after the court proceedings were over that they could not comment on that issue, and Manahan said he did not want it to be brought up in court on Thursday.

At issue in the hearing is whether Cordova knowingly waived his right to an attorney. His side has said his statements to Frisk and Widdis should not be used against him during a trial.


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