The Region - News from May 22, 1986

Jonathan Freeman of Ventura, who pleaded guilty to first-degree murder charges of hiring another man to kill his wife, Judith, 33, in May of 1984, was sentenced to life in prison without parole by Ventura County Superior Court Judge Marvin Lewis. Mrs. Freeman was beaten with a hammer and stabbed to death by Sid Bruster, 44, of Ventura, who is serving a 25-years-to-life prison term for the crime. During his trial, Bruster implicated Freeman, 34, to avoid the possibility of a death sentence. Bruster said that Freeman, a friend, recruited him to kill his wife in return for working free of charge on cars and motorcycles owned by Bruster.