FILLMORE : Man, 90, Indicted in Death of Wife
The Ventura County grand jury Wednesday indicted a 90-year-old Fillmore man on murder for the strangulation of his wife of 60 years.
Alfred Pohlmeier, scheduled to be arraigned today, is accused of choking his 86-year-old wife Lidwina into unconsciousness on Sept. 13 in the mobile home the couple shared.
Lidwina Pohlmeier died two days later in a hospital without regaining consciousness.
Pohlmeier, who is being held in lieu of $250,000 bail, initially told investigators his wife was ill and that he wanted her to die before he did. But investigators said Lidwina only had a mild cough and no other signs of illness prior to her strangulation.
If convicted of premeditated murder, Pohlmeier would face a mandatory sentence of 25 years to life in prison.
The grand jury indictment cancels a preliminary hearing that had been scheduled for Friday. Grand jury testimony is taken in private.
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