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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2013 | Vol. 89, No. 80 | WWW.SOUTHWHIDBEYRECORD.COM | 75¢
Alleged Greenbank murderer goes to trial By JESSIE STENSLAND Staff reporter A “secret obsession” with a female friend from Antarctica compelled Robert “Al” Baker to brutally murder his wife at their Greenbank home last summer, prosecutors claim. Eric Ohme, the senior deputy prosecutor in
Island County, laid out his case against Baker in opening statements at the start of the murder trial Thursday. “The obsession he had for a woman that was not his wife,” Ohme told the jury. “It culminated the night of June 2 or the morning of June 3, 2012, when Robert Baker struck his
wife in the head with a hammer, strangled her in their bed.” Baker, 62, is facing a first-degree murder charge in the death of his wife, Kathie Baker. The couple met at an Antarctic science station and owned a well-known pizza restaurant in Freeland.
Baker is claiming innocence. His attorney, Tom Pacher, reserved his opening remarks until after the prosecution rests. Ohme, however, spoke about the sheer violence of Kathie Baker’s death and described SEE TRIAL, A14
The race for school board Bond and Gianni face off for Position 5
By CELESTE ERICKSON South Whidbey Record South Whidbey School Board Position 5 is contested by two candidates. Each has decades of experience in education and each is running for office for the first time. The candidate chosen by voters this November will replace Jill Engstrom, who has decided not to seek re-election. The seat carries a four-year term. Hoping to fill the open position are Betty Bond and Rocco Gianni.
Betty Bond Bond has lived in Langley for three years and has more than 37 years of experience in education. She is running because she feels dedicated to the education of South Whidbey’s youths. Bond studied teaching at several universities and earned a master’s degree in teaching. She has worked as a teacher mentor and a university instructor. She said since she was five years old she knew she wanted to work in education. “Every child has a right and equal opportunity to succeed,”
she said. “I believe I have so much to contribute to South Whidbey with the number of years I’ve dedicated my life to education.” Bond cites her past leadership experience as a strong quality for the position. She said she has come around full circle with those skills, from a teacher and mentor and now to a school board candidate. “I have a lot to contribute in terms of collaborating inforSEE ELECTION, A20