Latest Developments
Defiant Susan Polk Sentenced to 16 YearsFeb. 23, 2007
A defiant Susan Polk refused to express remorse or ask for mercy before she was sentenced to 16 years in prison for the stabbing death of her psychotherapist husband in their pool house in 2002.
Previous Developments
Susan Polk Seeks New TrialFeb. 1, 2007
Even before she's been sentenced for her conviction of second-degree murder in the 2002 stabbing death of her husband, Susan Polk has filed a motion for a new trial.
Susan Polk Guilty of Murder
June 16, 2006
No one expressed surprise today when a jury returned a guilty verdict of second-degree murder in the trial of Susan Polk for the murder of her therapist husband, Felix Polk. Under California law, "second degree" means the murder was intentional, but not premeditated.
Closing Arguments Scheduled
June 12, 2006
Closing arguments are scheduled today in the Susan Polk murder trial after Judge Laurel Brady denied a request from the defendant, who is acting as her own attorney, for more time to prepare.
Argument Disrupts Susan Polk Trial
May 24, 2006
Judge Laurel Brady sent the jury in the Susan Polk murder trial home early after the defendant and the prosecutor got into a heated argument before the jury over Polk's attempt to introduce inadmissible evidence as she was testifying from the witness stand.
Susan Polk Tells Jury: 'I'm A Mutation'
May 17, 2006
Susan Polk took the witness stand in her trial for the murder of her husband and told the jury that she believed her husband was an Israeli secret agent who used her in a secret government experiment, because she was a "mutation" with psychic powers and the ability to tell the future.
Susan Polk's Expert Witness Flees
May 9, 2006
The murder trial of Susan Polk took another bizarre twist this week when an expert witness for the defense, who testified under direct examination last week, left town and refused to return to court to undergo cross-examination by prosecutors and produce letters written to him by the defendant.
Susan Polk: I'm Not Crazy
Apr. 25, 2006
Acting has her own attorney, Susan Polk opened her defense in the trial for the murder of her husband with an opening statement in which she told jurors that she was not crazy, and then proceeded to tell them that she is a psychic who predicted the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 and believes in fairies.
Attorney: Felix Polk Feared for His Life
Apr. 5, 2006
The attorney who was representing Felix Polk in his divorce from Susan Polk when she stabbed him to death told the jury at her murder trial that his client was in fear for his safety because his wife said she had a shotgun in the trunk of her car.
Susan Polk: A Fool for a Client?
Mar. 13, 2005
The murder trial of Susan Polk, for the death of her 70-year-old husband, is becoming a textbook example of why defendants should never act as their own attorneys, as the judge in the trial admonished her that she was losing the jury's attention with her cross-examination of her son.
Susan Polk Begins Trial as Her Own Attorney
Mar. 1, 2006
The murder trial of Susan Polk got underway with jury selection this week and it was the defendant herself, acting as her own attorney, who asked potential jury members if they would be prejudiced against someone trying to be their own attorney.
Susan Polk's Trial Rescheduled for Feb. 27
Feb. 6, 2005
Susan Polk will be defending herself in her trial for the stabbing death of her husband, 70-year-old Frank (Felix) Polk in 2003, and a judge has set a new trial date of February 27.
Susan Polk Wants to Fire Horowitz
Jan. 13, 2005
The woman whose murder trial was declared a mistrial when her attorney's wife was found killed in their home in October has asked the judge to let her represent herself in the rescheduled trial beginning Jan. 31.
Teen Pothead Arrested for Pamela Vitale Murder
Oct. 20, 2005
A teenage neighbor of Daniel Horowitz, who was apparently involved in a credit-card-theft scheme to purchase marijuana-growing equipment, has been arrested for murder in connection with the prominent attorney's wife, Pamela Vitale.
Mistrial Declared in Susan Polk Murder Trial
Oct. 17, 2005
A mistrial was declared in the murder trial of Susan Polk, accused of killing her wealthy therapist husband, because of the murder of the wife of her lead attorney, Daniel Horowitz.
Wife of Attorney Daniel Horowitz Found Dead
Oct. 16, 2005
Pamela Vitale, the wife of prominent San Francisco defense attorney Daniel Horowitz, has been found dead at the couple's home and investigators said her death was "definite homicide."
Susan Polk: Murder or Self-Defense?
Susan Polk, 47, has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of her 70-year-old wealthy husband, Frank (Felix) Polk, a prominent Berkeley psychologist, who was found with five stab wounds in the pool house at the couple's upscale San Francisco home in 2002.
