Princeton dentist accused of throwing wife out window says she jumped

PRINCETON, Mass. — The manslaughter trial of a former Princeton dentist got underway Tuesday.

Roger Desilets is accused of killing his wife of more than 40 years, Kathleen, who died after falling from a third floor window. But the defense says he did not play any role in that fall.

Now 72, Desilets is charged with manslaughter and assault and battery.

Investigators say the former dentist threw his wife from the window of his Princeton home on Dec. 5, 2011 after the fight, which was fueled by anger around his longtime affair discovered the summer before.

“Investigators would discover several blood stains in the bathroom, in the hallway, on the door frame of a bedroom,” Assistant District Attorney John Bradley Jr. said.

Defense Attorney Michael Wilcox told the jury 65-year-old Kathleen Desilets had alcohol and Valium in her system and described her as highly intoxicated the night of her death.

The fractures, bruises and evidence of internal bleeding found during an autopsy was caused by her fall.

“That window was open because Kathleen Desilets opened it. Kathleen Desilets broke the storm window with a chair that was found lying on its side in that room,” Wilcox said.

The ADA said when police arrived, Dr. Desilets had cuts on his face and at first told detectives his wife might have fallen from the window and later changed his story to say she jumped.

“We will prove to you ladies and gentlemen, that that was a lie. We will prove to you that Roger Desilets threw his wife out that window that early morning and caused her death,” Bradley said.

The defense said there is no way to prove it wasn’t an accident or suicide by Kathleen.

“Kathleen Desilets, for reasons that only she can answer, sat on that window after breaking the glass and either took her life or she fell intending to make some sort of point with her husband,” Wilcox said.

Cox Media Group