CATLETTSBURG —
The trial of a man accused of attempting to kill his wife by planting a bomb in her car is scheduled to begin today in Boyd Circuit Court.
Barring a last-minute plea agreement or continuance, jury selection in the trial of Thomas K. Biederman was set to get under way at 9:30 a.m. in Judge George W. Davis III’s courtroom.
Biederman, 52, of Russell, is charged with attempted murder and using a weapon of mass destruction. Both are Class B felonies, meaning Biederman could be sentenced to a maximum of 40 years if he’s convicted on both counts.
Boyd Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Jason Greer said he anticipated the trial lasting eight or nine days. Biederman is represented by Michael Curtis of Ashland.
The charges against Biederman stem from a July 28, 2011, car bombing in the parking garage of the Skytower, 1212 Bath Ave. The bomb detonated after Biederman’s wife, Janie, an employee of a firm with offices in the Skytower, got into her Ford Mustang convertible and touched the brake pedal.
Janie Biederman suffered first- and second-degree burns to her arms and on the backs of both her legs, according to police. She was taken to King’s Daughters Medical Center, where she was released after treatment.
Authorities said the fact the car was a convertible and the force of the blast went straight upward, rather than being contained in the passenger cabin, likely saved Janie Biederman’s life.
Thomas Biederman was arrested Jan. 19 at the federal courthouse in Ashland by Ashland Police Department officers and agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The arrest was the culmination of a joint investigation of the bombing by the APD, the ATF, the Kentucky State Police and other agencies.
An ATF spokesman said the decision was made to charge Biederman in state, rather than federal, court because the potential penalty he faces there is harsher.
KENNETH HART can be reached at khart@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2654.
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Accused car bomber’s trial to begin today
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