By Kitty Caparella
The Philadelphia Daily News
HUNTINGDON, Pa. — A Montgomery County Court official yesterday denied alimony and spousal support to a jailed ex-husband who shot his wife six times and repeatedly raped her in 2005 after she had filed for a no-fault divorce.
During the 15-minute hearing, attorney Mindy Harris issued the ruling as a “master” assigned by the court to resolve alimony and property issues in the divorce between Kendall Williams and Crystal Haynes, both 49, formerly of King of Prussia.
Yesterday, a Daily News story detailed how Williams continued to terrorize Haynes from behind bars by filing numerous motions to prevent a final divorce decree, although the divorce was granted in 2005.
Williams is serving a 17 1/2-to-35 year sentence at SCI Smithfield in Huntingdon, Pa., for the attempted murder of his wife.
Yesterday, Haynes appeared for the ninth time in 18 months for new motions in the divorce, in addition to nearly 10 times preparing for attempted murder proceedings in 2007.
“This is just sheer abuse,” said Haynes, who asked to sit just outside the courtroom so she wouldn’t have to face her ex-husband on a TV monitor again.
Haynes said that she heard Harris ask Williams: “What makes you think you’re entitled to alimony? Your wife doesn’t have to pay anything. You are the one who has to pay.”
As justification for his alimony request, Williams, who appeared on the monitor from prison, quoted a state law that apparently applied to spouses caring for children, according to Haynes. His three children are adults.
“That doesn’t equate to you,” Harris replied, according to Haynes. “You pleaded guilty to the crime. So why would you be entitled to anything?”
Momentarily stunned, Williams then asked to appear before Montgomery County Common Pleas Judge R. Stephen Barrett, to whom Harris will issue her reports. Barrett is on vacation.
Besides alimony, Williams is seeking a washer/dryer, the couple’s two cats, a videotape of the birth of their daughter and groceries among the 98 items on a list.
“What are you going to do with that stuff in jail? That is ridiculous,” Harris said.
Karen Model, who represents Haynes as part of the Montgomery County Crime Victims Project, said Williams’ actions are “just another form of stalking” Haynes.
Harris will issue the alimony report to Barrett before scheduling another hearing regarding the property Williams requested. Barrett is then expected to issue the final decree.
After the hearing, Haynes said: “I felt good. He got somebody in his face. He still shows no remorse.”
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