The Rockland County podiatrist who prosecutors mentioned tried to have his spouse killed twice issued a teary apology following his first botched homicide plot – as court docket papers laid out the ex-couple’s tumultuous marriage.
Dr. Ira Bernstein claimed at his 2017 sentencing that he was “humiliated, humbled and albeit embarrassed,” and mentioned he can be a “compassionate and good-hearted man sooner or later” as he confronted partner Susan Bernstein in court docket.
“To Susan, we had a really worrying marriage, however it doesn’t matter what occurred there isn’t any justification for coming into right into a conspiracy to have you ever murdered,” he advised his spouse whom he shares three youngsters with as he bought choked up in court docket, in response to video captured by Lohud.com.
However the foot doc’s previous plea for mercy appeared short-lived when he pleaded responsible this week to tampering with proof in connection to a second murder-for-hire bid, prosecutors mentioned.
Bernstein was launched from jail in 2021 after serving 4 years behind bars solely to attempt to organize his spouse’s homicide round a yr later, in response to the Rockland County District Lawyer’s Workplace.
Throughout the second plot, Bernstein was recorded asking a landscaper to kill his estranged spouse, after which tried to get the file destroyed, prosecutors mentioned.
Ira and Susan tied the knot in August 2001, however had a rocky marriage earlier than their relationship fizzled about 15 years later. The 2 at the moment are divorced.
She pulled no punches on her hubby through the 2017 sentencing, labeling him “evil” and a remorseless deadbeat father who fairly lived in luxurious as his children suffered.
“He hasn’t paid a penny of help cash to me or the kids for nearly 5 months since he pled responsible in January,” she mentioned.
“Whereas we live in a hell, a relentless state of disaster, Ira has been dwelling with Kelly within the luxurious Montebello Pines and supporting his high-flying way of life.”
She mentioned he’s paid for journeys to Florida, Broadway reveals, steak and lobster dinners and elective eye surgical procedure.
“He has the cash,” she claimed. “However gained’t even pay for my youngsters’s therapist to assist them heal from the harm he completely brought about.”
When Susan filed a civil lawsuit on behalf of their three youngsters towards Ira in 2017 over the failed homicide plot, her husband threw his personal array of accusations towards her, claiming she had temper swings from anger to affection.
Susan filed for divorce twice within the span of some years, in response to authorized papers.
She allegedly conjured up false claims of abuse towards her and the three youngsters, utilizing the trio as “pawns” when she tried to get him to signal a postnuptial settlement through the first divorce continuing that resulted in February 2016, in response to his counterclaim.
Susan then gave him a birthday card on April 23, 2016 with a be aware that said, “I believe this must be a great yr. Love you,” however filed to divorce once more about two weeks later, together with a restraining order, Ira’s counterclaim alleged.
The spouse denied Ira’s inflammatory accusations, court docket data present.
It’s unclear what the standing of the civil case is. The Submit has sought remark from legal professionals concerned within the case.
Throughout the first homicide plot, he and his then-lover Kelly Gribeluk tried to rent somebody for $100,000 to kill Susan, however had been as an alternative turned in by the potential hitman, in response to prosecutors.
The ex-wife additionally filed a civil lawsuit in connection to the second homicide scheme in 2023, which is ongoing.
Ira Bernstein will probably be sentenced in December, through which he might face one and a half to a few years in jail for making an attempt to destroy proof tied to the second homicide plot, in response to prosecutors.
His sister Jaclyn Goldberg, who the district lawyer’s workplace accused of serving to him within the proof tampering, is predicted to achieve a decision within the case that might see the fees dropped towards her in six months if she stays out of hassle.
