Tulsa World: Updated: Witnesses say ex-teacher accused of murder never prepared for trip

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Updated: Witnesses say ex-teacher accused of murder never prepared for trip

Prosecutors allege that John Robert Kastner, a former Webster High School teacher, killed his wife, a former Oklahoma Supreme Court attorney, on June 25 at their home in the 3800 block of South Union Avenue. STEPHEN PINGRY/Tulsa World

By GINNIE GRAHAM World Staff Writer
Published: 8/25/2008 2:20 PM
Last Modified: 8/25/2008 9:14 PM

Related Story: 'Pyramid of lies' alleged

John Robert Kastner's family had taken sleeping aids the night before his wife was fatally shot in the head, according to testimony at a preliminary hearing Monday.

The hearing will continue at 9 a.m. Friday at the Tulsa County Courthouse.

Kastner is charged with the June 25 death of his wife, Lori Kastner, at their west Tulsa home.

Tulsa Police Officer Steve Douglas interviewed Kastner while he was at St. Francis Hospital receiving treatment for a gunshot wound to his left hand. Kastner claimed to have received the wound during a struggle with an intruder, according to testimony.

Douglas described Kastner as calm during the interview. Kastner also told the officer he was not in pain and had not taken any medications, Douglas said.

According to Douglas, Kastner said his two children had taken Benadryl and his wife had taken a sleeping pill the night before to help them sleep. He said they were excited about a trip to Israel planned for that day.

His son, 15-year-old Fraser Kastner, testified that he did not hear a gunshot. His father woke him up and asked him to move into his sisters' room because an intruder might be in the house, he said.

John Kastner did not obtain a passport or pack for a trip to Israel, despite months of having planned

a move to the country so that his wife could take a high-paying job there, according to testimony.

A State Department official testified that John Kastner's passport expired in 1995 and that no application was made to renew it.

Kastner went with his wife and three children to obtain their passports, and he signed consent forms for his minor children to travel, according to Richard Higbie, an agent with the State Department's Bueau of Diplomatic Security.

Fraser Kastner said his mother was busy packing and getting everyone ready for the move the day before she was killed. He said his father told the family months before that the charitable corporation "713" was going to be co-owned by Lori Kastner.

Fraser Kastner said his father was in charge of most of the planning for the trip.

"It was mainly him because he knew most about it," the son testified.

Fraser Kastner said the corporation name came from his father's unit in the Israel Defense Force and that seven is his father's favorite number.

Previous police reports state that Kastner has no known connection to the Israeli military.

Sally Kastner, the couple's adopted daughter, stated that Kastner showed her a gun he had purchased about a week before the shooting. Sally Kastner came from a dysfunctional home and was adopted by the couple when she was in high school. Kastner was her track coach at Webster High School.

A few days before the shooting, Sally Kastner said she saw John Kastner walk outside about 3 a.m. and shoot the gun.

"I heard a gunshot, and he came back in and I asked what that was," said Sally Kastner. "He said it was a noise. But I said, 'You have a gun in your hand. Is everything OK?' He said he was just test firing it."

Sally Kastner said she originally thought he was sleepwalking, which she said he did almost every night. However, he had never had a sleepwalking incident with a gun, she testified.

Defense attorneys quizzed Sally Kastner about her biological mother's unhappiness about the Kastners' adopting her and about an ex-boyfriend's threats to her after a breakup. Sally Kastner was at her sister's house at the time of the shooting, and Fraser Kastner said he did not hear the gunshots.

Register for Email Newsletters: TulsaWorld.com now offers 25 Email Newsletters that can be sent directly to your inbox. Pick from topics and writers from every section, as well as Breaking News Alerts. Already a registered user? Visit the My Account home page or create a new account. By GINNIE GRAHAM World Staff Writer

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	Report Comment tjayer01, (8/25/2008 5:41:28 PM) WOW In this picture of him he looks like he's lost alot of weight! I guess jail life isn't working out to well for him!! I hope the thought of what he has done to his poor family and the community eats away at him!
	Report Comment tnt091605, (8/25/2008 5:44:00 PM) This is such a sad story. I hope the kids find a way to cope with this crime.
	Report Comment tinarae671, DFW (8/25/2008 7:01:36 PM) Maybe he hadn't renewed his passport because he was going to stay behind and join them later?
	Report Comment jestergrl, (8/25/2008 8:32:54 PM) Or tinarae he had no plans for anyone to leave and decided to kill his wife because everyone would know he was a fake. He concocted this silly story like he wouldn't get caught. I feel bad for the children. The girl already came from a dysfunctional family and into another one. I hope she overcomes this tragedy as well as the son. What was he ( Kastner) thinking?
	Report Comment thedomesticgodess, Eufaula (8/26/2008 3:53:15 AM) so sad the kids have lost their mum and dad is a murdering nut.. for a teacher he wasnt very smart thou he had the school going for a while according to the other news stories.. why on earth did he not kill himself or come clean he was nothing but a lyer then mum would of been alive the kids ok and dad getting phyco help.... now the kids have no mother and she was a very smart lady by all accounts that i have read.. I really hope the kids get through this and have very good family and friends for surport it must be so hard for them to testify...
	Report Comment What in the World!, Hometown Tulsa / Edmond (8/26/2008 7:05:54 AM) Sounds like premeditated murder. He more than likely did not want his wife and children to leave. I hope they find the answers.
	Report Comment H_Harl, (8/26/2008 2:25:04 PM) man, what a horible thing. this lady was brutally murdered by the man who was supposed to love her the most.

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