Bell pleads not guilty in New Fairfield shooting

Robert Bell, 63, of New Fairfield, right, appears before Judge John Blawie in state Superior Court in Danbury on Monday, Dec. 10, 2012, for his arraignment on a charge of first-degree manslaughter. Bell is accused of shooting and killing his wife, Svetlana Bell, 47, and is being represented by Public Defender Mark Johnson, left. less Robert Bell, 63, of New Fairfield, right, appears before Judge John Blawie in state Superior Court in Danbury on Monday, Dec. 10, 2012, for his arraignment on a charge of first-degree manslaughter. Bell is ... more Photo: Danbury Patch / Pool Photo: Danbury Patch / Pool Image 1 of / 12 Caption Close Bell pleads not guilty in New Fairfield shooting 1 / 12 Back to Gallery

DANBURY -- A 63-year-old New Fairfield man who claimed he shot his wife in self-defense last month pleaded not guilty in state Superior Court on Monday.

Robert Bell faces a felony charge of first-degree manslaughter and a misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct for shooting his wife, Svetlana, 47, to death in the kitchen of their Hilltop Drive home on the evening of Dec. 8.

Bell told an emergency dispatcher that he fired at his wife after she "came at me with a knife."

State Police said they found a kitchen knife on the floor near Svetlana Bell while the couple's teenage daughter was trying to revive her mother. She was pronounced dead at Danbury Hospital.

Police said Mrs. Bell, a music teacher in Wilton and a violinist with the Danbury Symphony Orchestra, had been shot several times with a .38- caliber handgun. They also seized some two dozen other firearms, including handguns, rifles and shotguns from the home, they said.

Police said Bell, who had recently retired, wasn't charged with murder because the shooting didn't appear to be premeditated.

Bell remains in custody on $75,000 bond and the case was continued to Feb. 8.

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