Burbank Man, 70, Pleads Not Guilty In Beating Death Of Wife, 65
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — A 70-year-old Burbank man pleaded not guilty Wednesday to murdering his 65-year-old wife, who was beaten in the head with a chair leg.
Joseph Robert Brancato was arrested July 5 at the couple's home in the 800 block of North Valley Street, where his wife, Marie, was found dead. Police said she suffered "a traumatic injury" to the back of her head, and bled profusely.
The criminal complaint alleges Brancato used the leg of a chair to bludgeon her to death, in what Burbank police said was the first homicide in the city in more than two years.
Brancato remains jailed on more than $1 million bail.
His next court appearance is Sept. 12, when a date will be scheduled to determine if there is enough evidence to require him to stand trial.
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