Children Of Murder Suspect Testify

Former Tulsa school teacher, John Kastner, was in court on Monday. He's accused of murdering his wife, Lori, in June. News On 6 crime reporter Lori Fullbright reports two of their children testified on Monday.

Fifteen-year-old Frasier and 19-year-old Sally Kastner both made eye contact with their dad from the witness stand while they described things they had seen and heard in the days before their mom's murder.

John Kastner didn't show any visible emotion when his children and father-in-law testified, but, he did whisper frequently to his attorneys about the case.

Sally Kastner testified she came from a bad home life and John Kastner had been her coach and teacher at Webster high school, so the Kastner's took her in and adopted her.

She said her Dad had told the family they were going to Israel so Lori Kastner could work for a charitable company called 713. She says he told them their life would involve, private jets, shopping and body guards.

She says John Kastner told her he had saved the life of someone important and been given a lot of money and invested it in the company.

She also said John Kastner showed her a gun three days before the murder and he fired the gun off in the yard the next day at 3 a.m. to test it.

The Kastner's 15-year-old son, Fraser, said his dad told him the company, 713, had been named for Kastner's unit in the Israeli Defense Force.

Two coaches and the principal from Webster high testified that Kastner told them he was going to Israel to do his military service, saying he'd inherited $20 million that had grown into $100 million. They said John Kastner offered the school and coaches large sums of money.

Prosecutors say the trip to Israel, 713, the military service, and the money were all lies.

Police believe Kastner killed his wife to keep the web of lies from unraveling.

The witnesses testified they never heard John Kastner say anything but kind things about his wife.

Kastner's attorney asked questions about other possible suspects who could've killed Lori Kastner. She asked Kastner's daughter about the boy who had gotten expelled for stalking and harassing her and about her biological mother's life of violence and drugs.

When the testimony is done, probably on Tuesday, the judge will decide if there's enough evidence for Kastner to stand trial.

Related story:

8/24/2008  Former Teacher Headed To Court