Woman on Trial: The Lawrencia Bembenek Story (1993)

The true story of a woman who is sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering her husband's ex-wife. After being dismissed from the Milwaukee police, Laurie Bembenek is swept off her feet ... See full summary »

Director:

Sandor Stern

Writers:

Lawrencia Bembenek (book), Sandor Stern

Stars:

Tatum O'Neal, Bruce Greenwood, Peggy McCay

Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy. Another 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tatum O'Neal	...	Lawrencia Bembenek
Bruce Greenwood	...	Fred Schultz
Peggy McCay	...	Virginia Bembenek
Colin Fox	...	Joe Bembenek
Kenneth Welsh	...	Don Eisenberg
Catherine Disher	...	Judy Zess
Richard Hughes	...	Russ
Alan Jordan	...	Prosecuting Attorney
Ron White	...	Det. Rogers
Saul Rubinek	...	Bill Bryson
Alex McArthur	...	Nick Gugliatto
Barbara Eve Harris	...	Zena Jackson
Ari Magder	...	Sean Schultz
Graham Losee	...	Shannon Schultz
Gail Webster	...	Christine Schultz

Storyline

The true story of a woman who is sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering her husband's ex-wife. After being dismissed from the Milwaukee police, Laurie Bembenek is swept off her feet by divorced Fred Schultz and they decide to marry. The pair face mounting financial problems, but when Fred's ex-wife is killed with a bullet from his off-duty pistol, it is Laurie who is arrested for the brutal crime.

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Plot Keywords:

police | thunder bay ontario | policewoman | ontario canada | fugitive sex | 

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Certificate:

Unrated

User Reviews

Another miscarriage

Very compulsive viewing without any foul language . Obviously this was police corruption at its height as Laurie Bembeneck had been a whistle blower and reported sexual and racial discrimination to a lawyer.Result was she was sacked and in order to make a living she was even a part time Playboy Bunnie. Meeting a detective at a night club and one thing leading to another they were married in a matter of weeks not even inviting any parents or whatever. All Laurie knows about his ex wife is what he told her-there were 2 kids she had custody of and in fact he had no rights at all and was being paid so much per month he had very little left after apartment rents etc.This was the first sign of him not being what he seemed as Irretrevable Breakdown wouldn't allow her to have claimed so much. But whatever she ends up being murdered and both of them had a motive. So the police department see the door open for Revenge,she is sent down for life and he's out of it clearing off and remarrying after she doesn't refuse the divorce. The trial of course is a farce as we learn later when another lawyer discovers evidence was suppressed or even fabricated in an attempt to put her at the scene of the crime. During her years in prison she had a Prison Visitor who eventually asked her to marry him.He also talked her into escaping which she did and the two of them went to Canada.After photos were seen on America's Most Wanted somebody reported her as being in their town with a man.Both arrested she got another 5 years on her sentence and given a years solitary. Meanwhile the public are coming out on her side in droves and another lawyer uncovers vital evidence.But the police are unwilling to open the case up again-various Appeals had failed-and she was advised to plead No Contest.Which means she hasn't admitted Guilt but not Innocence either. However it works and she's eventually out after realising that she would never get Parole unless she admits she did it and is sorry. No one has ever been caught for the murder

Details

Country:

Canada USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 May 1993 (USA)

Also Known As:

Woman on Trial: The Lawrencia Bembenek Story

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Atlantis Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

200 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1