Man Accused Of Killing & Burying Woman Faces Judge

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Last September, the first time George Biegenwald was in court after he was accused of murder was for an assault case against another woman. His lawyer got that case reduced to simple assault and reckless endangerment.

But that incident happened just days before the body of his girlfriend, Donna See, was found in a back yard in Shaler. Police said Biegenwald told them it took three days to dig that grave.

Now, the prosecution wants that assault case to be tried with the murder case because they think it shows a relevant pattern of abusing women: holding her against her will before she escaped.

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The woman allegedly assaulted in that case, even after See's body was put in a freezer and later buried, is part of a history that's made its way through the court system.

In 2011, another woman filed a Protection From Abuse claim against Biegenwald. In that case, the woman claimed he got upset with her for looking at a computer and started yelling, punching and kicking her repeatedly for two days.

But, the defense says no other case should be part of the murder trial and that if it is, it would prejudice the jury.

"It would be too prejudicial and unduly burdensome for the defendant to try to defend himself in open court," said defense attorney Phil DiLucente. "One could argue that the jury would not be able to separate the cases and just say our guy is just a horrible person and that he should be convicted," he said.

Allegheny County Judge Jill Rangos says it will take a while for her to rule on the motion to sever the assault and murder trials, and she's still waiting for other pre-trial motions to consider.