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Preliminary hearing begins for doctor accused of murdering ex-wife

Posted at 12:09 PM, Oct 01, 2013
and last updated 2013-10-01 14:11:42-04

SALT LAKE CITY — A three day hearing began Tuesday to determine if prosecutors have enough evidence against a pediatrician accused of murder to go to trial.

Dr. John Wall is accused of killing his ex-wife, University of Utah researcher Uta von Schwedler.

Von Schwedler was found drugged and drowned in the bathtub of her Salt Lake City home on September 27, 2011. Her death was ruled as suspicious, and Wall was arrested in May 2013 and given a $1.5 million cash-only bail.

Klaus Fiebig, the man who introduced Wall to von Schwedler, testified Tuesday morning about the couple’s bitter separation and divorce.

Fiebig testified that he was visiting Salt Lake City about eight months before von Schwedler’s death and Wall asked him: “Would it be bad if Uta wasn’t here anymore?”

The next witness was Nils Abramson, who was von Schwedler’s boyfriend at the time of her death.  Abramson was the person who found von Schwedler dead in her bathtub.

Prosecutors showed graphic crime scene photos to go along with Abramson’s testimony, but Wall showed very little expression as the photos were presented.

Watch FOX 13 News and fox13now.com for updates on Dr. Wall’s preliminary hearing.

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