Doctor accused of poisoning wife extradited

CLEVELAND, OH - January 11, 2009 Federal and local authorities escorted Yazeed Essa to Cleveland's Cuyahoga County Jail on Friday. He faces one charge of aggravated murder in the 2005 death of his wife, Rosemarie.

A coroner determined she lost consciousness and crashed while driving after being given a cyanide pill. Essa disappeared in March 2006 and was arrested months later in Cyprus.

His lawyer has said his 39-year-old client fought extradition to the U.S. because he feared he would face the death penalty in Ohio.

The former Akron General Hospital doctor could be sentenced to life in prison if convicted.

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