The wife of a man on trial for murder in Kalamazoo, Michigan has testified in court that her husband confessed to her that he committed the unsolved 1996 slaying of Demetrius Carter in a North Branch boarding house.
Besham Brian Sugrim, a former Sullivan County resident whose parents ran the boarding house Carter was killed in, was convicted last month of the gruesome murder of 39-year-old Linda Kay Gibson, a prostitute.
As part of their coverage of the trial, the Kalamazoo Gazette ran a dramatic five-part series on allegations made by Sugrim's wife, Bernadette Sugrim. In part 2, Bernadette describes her husband's alleged confession to the Carter murder:
"He actually pointed out where he did it. 'This was where I killed that guy. I shot him in the head, wrapped him up,'" Bernadette said her husband told her. "His reason — it staggered — but the first time he said it was meant to be his father and then he said he knew this guy had AIDS, no life, and it didn't matter if he lived or died. I think he just wanted to kill somebody."
The Times Herald-Record reports that although Bernadette Sugrim is a compelling witness, New York State law will not allow her to testify against her husband:
...Prosecuting Sugrim for the Carter murder is more difficult in New York where state law bars Bernadette from testifying about what her husband allegedly told her of the Carter killing. Sullivan County sheriff's detectives traveled to Michigan and interviewed her. "She was a very compelling witness out there, she is believable and compelling," Sullivan County Patrol Chief Blake Muthig said. "Love to use her. New York just won't permit it."
But officials say the case has been reopened, and old evidence is being subjected to new DNA analysis in the hopes that local law enforcement can build a case against Besham Sugrim without his wife's testimony.
From the Sullivan County Democrat:
DNA or other forensic evidence will be looked at again, and if Besham is connected to the crime, [Sullivan County DA Jim] Farrell plans to prosecute.
“He was a suspect back in 1996,” the DA confirmed. “... If we can get justice, we sure as hell are going to try.”
Below: Bernadette Sugrim tells a reporter that her husband, Besham Brian Sugrim, confided in her about the 1996 murder of Demetrius Carter in Callicoon. Video from the Kalamazoo Gazette.
