European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - February 1, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday february 1, 1989 the stars and stripes Page 5 Steinberg guilty of manslaughter in beating of adopted daughter new York a a jury monday convicted Joel Steinberg of manslaughter in the beating death of his illegally adopted 6-year-old daughter Lisa a death that refocused National attention on Domestic violence. Steinberg showed no emotion As each of the 12 jurors was polled on the verdict on the eighth Day of deliberations in the 3 month old trial. He was acquitted on the More serious charge of second degree Mur Der. The verdict culminated a Case that had witnesses providing wrenching detail of the physical and emotional havoc wrought by spousal and child abuse and the failure of others to intercede. Lisa s biological Mother Michele launders 27, said before the jury re turned that the Only verdict that would be Justice for Lisa is  after the verdict she left the courtroom in tears and would not speak to reporters. She was sitting next to Graceann Smi Giel the grandmother of a Young boy who was found in Steinberg s apartment when police and emergency medical service paramedics removed Lisa s co Matose body nov. 2, 1987. The boy who also was illegally adopted by Steinberg has been returned to his biological Mother. The conviction on the charge of first degree manslaughter carries a maximum sentence of 8 /3 to 25 years. It was a charge that prosecutors at one time had considered dropping from the Case. Sentencing was set for March 8. District attorney Robert Morgenthau who promised to ask for the maximum punishment said the trial highlighted the dreadful problems that beset our City child abuse drug abuse and family  Ira London Steinberg s lawyer said we do not consider this a win for Joel or a Triumph for  one juror Helena Barthell 36, who argued in favor of convicting Steinberg of murder said the jury had virtually ignored the testimony of Hedda Nussbaum Steinberg s battered live i companion of 12 years. Nussbaum testifying under immunity from prosecution said she was so Domi Joel Steinberg rated by Steinberg that she was unable to defend herself from virtually systematic beatings or to protect Lisa. She also said she was unable to bring herself to summon medics promptly on nov. 1, 1987, after Steinberg told her Lisa was unconscious on the bathroom floor. The girl Lay there nearly 12 hours by the time Nussbaum called an ambulance. She died of brain damage in a hos Pital three Days later. Defense lawyers claimed it was Nussbaum who fatally beat Lisa out of jealousy Over the attention Steinberg paid the child. Prosecutors pointing to Nussbaum s own severe injuries and deteriorated mental state said she was incapable of such an act. State supreme court Justice Harold Rothwax instructed the jury that it must consider Nussbaum an accomplice in Lisa s death. As such her testimony had to be supported by other evidence. It was the layers of tragedy in the Hedda Nussbaum Steinberg Case that commanded Public attention. One question was How Nussbaum a former children s Book Edi Tor could allow herself much less the child to sustain such damage. Another was How bruises on Lisa could have been noticed by a student teacher at her elementary school and by neighbors but failed to come to the at Tention of child welfare officials. Yet another Issue was the ease with which Steinberg illegally gained custody of Lisa and another child 16-month old Mitchell from their unwed teen age mothers. And at the Center of the Case were the unknown motivations of Steinberg a lawyer who was disbarred last fall for having falsely claimed a military exemption from the bar exam. He did not testify at the trial. Steinberg s lawyers denied that he Ever beat Lisa. Prosecutors and Nussbau told another Story. Nussbaum testified that on nov. 1, Lisa Steinberg 1987, he ordered her and the girl to eat hot peppers then drink Large amounts of water typical of the irrational behaviour common in the household. Nussbaum said that she was in the bathroom when Lisa went into the bed room to ask Steinberg if she could go out to dinner with him. About 6 or 6 30 p.m., he walked into the bathroom hold ing Lisa s Limp body. And i said what happened " Nussbaum testified. He said what s the difference what happened this is you child. Has t this gone far enough " they put the unconscious child on the bathroom floor. Steinberg then left for Din Ner saying Don t worry just let her sleep she testified. When Steinberg re turned from dinner about 10 p.m., she said they smoked cocaine. It was then that he admitted hitting the girl she testified. About 6 a.m., Steinberg said Lisa had stopped breathing and tried to revive her she said. They finally called 911 at 6 30a.m., she said. . Attorney resigns under fire Boston not faced with a fed eral investigation of his conduct and open hostility from his staff the . Attorney in Massachusetts Frank l. Mcnamara jr., resigned monday saying the work of this office is far top important to be sidetracked by any Controvert  Jeremiah o Sullivan chief attorney for the Justice department s organized crime strike Force in new England was named interim successor. State officials and lawyers in the . Attorney s office have been urging Mcnamara to resign since november when the Justice department released a report concluding that he had falsely accused his predecessor William f. Weld of smoking marijuana. The department opened an investigation to determine whether Mcnamara had deliberately lied and staff members said the events had undermined Public Confidence in the office to the Point that Justice could not be carried out properly. Mounting pressure against the Republican appointee reached a Peak Friday when 28 of his 39 assistant attorneys sent a letter to Dick Thornburgh the attorney general seeking Mcnamara s immediate Resig nation or  Mcnamara in announcing his Resig nation monday said he would return to private practice with great enthusiasm adding that he bore no malice or ill will toward those who clamoured for his resignation. Mcnamara 41, refused to answer questions from reporters. Bad feelings Between Mcnamara and some of his staff Date from his appoint ment in 1987. His confirmation by the Senate was delayed until november be cause of questions raised by the Judic iary committee Over his income tax re turns and Over the use of Campaign funds from his unsuccessful bid to unseat rep. Thomas p. O Neill jr., the Massachusetts Democrat then speaker of the House. After his confirmation Mcnamara angered some of his staff members by making decisions that they said were motivated by partisan politics. He demoted Richard Stearns a Liberal Democrat who was his top Deputy and replaced him with a conservative. Missiles destroyed under soviet eyes Tucson Ariz. A fourteen so Viet inspectors arrived monday at Davis Monthan fab to observe a third round of cruise missile destruction under the intermediate Range nuclear forces treaty. The soviets Are to watch the destruction of 43 air Force cruise missiles and their canisters and 12 transporter erector launchers Over the next few Days said capt. Chuck Roque an air Force spokesman. To Date 84 missiles and canisters and 13 launchers have been eliminated under the treaty. Soviet inspectors have observed two previous missile eliminations at Davis Monthan the Only air Force base where the destruction is being staged. American workers destroy the weaponry by cutting it in half with handheld saws and plasma arc torches. Under the treaty 443 land based cruise missiles Are to be destroyed within the first three years As Well As 403  Pershing missiles and 1,846 soviet mis Siles. E stars and stripes 40 years ago today. Feb. 1, 1949 the Neucom quartermaster division announced that the Price for All freshly baked bread supplied by commissaries would be reduced by 2 cents meaning a 1 Pound loaf would cost7 cents. 30 years ago foday. Feb. 1, 1959 the danish ship Hans he Toft vanished without Trace after striking an iceberg off Greenland s Stormy coast. Rescue workers feared that All 95 people aboard were lost. 20 years ago foday. Feb. 1, 1969 president Nixon directed defense Secretary Melvin r. Laird to develop a detailed plan to re place the draft with an All Volunteer  after Vietnam War spending was substantially reduced. 10 years ago today. Feb. 1, 1979 China s Teng Hsiao sing wound up his visit to Washington y signing agreements providing for co operation in science and technology Cul Tural exchanges and establishment of consulates in the United states Anechina