Evidence emerges in trial
by Lisa Marietta / senior writer
A former JMU student charged with the murder of her father might
have new proof to support her claims of sexual abuse, which could
help her on-going murder trial.
According to court testimony, July 24 Loudoun County investigators
discovered large amounts of child pornography files and subscriptions
to teenage girl and sadomasochism news groups on the home computer
of Robert Schwartz, Clara Schwartz's father.
Then-sophomore Clara Schwartz, 19, was arrested from her Rockingham
Hall dorm Feb. 1 and faces first-degree murder charges for the Dec.
10 2001 slaying of her father, a prominent DNA researcher and biophysicist.
The prosecution asserts that Kyle Hulbert, 18, of Millersville,
Md., stabbed Robert Schwartz over 30 times with a two-foot sword,
at the request of Clara Schwartz.
Among pieces of evidence and testimony presented at the pretrial
hearing were Clara Schwartz's diary entries. The writings expressed
a pure hatred and disgust of her father and claims of sexual abuse
by him.
According to the July 25 issue of Harrisonburg's Daily News-Record,
defense attorney James Connell said Clara Schwartz told numerous
people that her father had abused her.
Clara Schwartz's trial was supposed to begin Aug. 5, but has
been delayed several weeks because a key police witness is ill and
recovering from an injury, according to the Aug. 3 Richmond Times-Dispatch.
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