Ralf Panitz Accused of Murder
After Appearing on Jerry Springer

Claims Innocence

Kay, I spoke with you on the phone at some length about my husband Ralf's case. It was the Jerry Springer case from back in 2000. You mentioned that you would be able to help me set up a web-page for Ralf. We are currently awaiting a response from the State to Ralf's Habeas Corpus. They are into their 2nd extension at this time. We are still feeling hopeful that he will get a new and fair trial.

We don't know if Ralf's trial lawyer, Geoff Fieger will keep his promise and represent Ralf again, or if we will have to find another lawyer that will handle the case pro-bono. Anyway I need to be prepared and I have no idea about how to go about setting up a defense fund for Ralf. I need all the help I can get. I'm trying to join as many innocent and wrongfully convicted groups as I can. My problem is that I cannot get on-line from my room. I have to go to the public library to use a computer, and I only get 60 minutes a day. That's not enough time to do much research after I've checked my messages.

Ralf did his State Habeas Pro Se and I'm enclosing it in an attachment. Please feel free to let me know what you think of it. He tried to be as professional as possible. Thank you for your time and I'm looking forward to hearing form you.

Former Springer guest pleads innocent in killing
www.sptimes.com/News/091600/State/State_briefs.shtml

SARASOTA -- A former guest of the Jerry Springer Show pleaded innocent Friday to second-degree murder in the beating death of his ex-wife.

Ralf Panitz, 40, was arrested in July, four days after Nancy Campbell-Panitz's body was found. She was killed on the same day she appeared on the Springer show with Panitz and his new wife in an episode called "Secret Mistresses Confronted."

The trio had a long history of domestic violence complaints against each other. Hours before the slaying, a judge ordered Panitz and his wife Eleanor to stay away from Nancy Campbell-Panitz.

The defense of Ralf Panitz, a German national, had been paid for by the German government because it was concerned he would face the death penalty.

But prosecutors reduced the charge to second-degree murder and Panitz now faces a maximum term of life in prison if convicted. The Public Defender's Office is representing him now.

Springer sued by family of murdered guest
www.medialifemagazine.com/news2002/jul02/jul08/5_fri/news7friday.html

Trash TV king Jerry Springer is being sued by the son of a woman who was beaten to death by her former husband after the two had aired their conflict on his show. Ralf Panitz, a German-born painted, appeared on the show with his new wife, Eleaonor, to confront his former wife, Nancy Campbell-Panitz. Three months later, on the day the show aired, Panitz got into a fight with Campbell-Panitz at the home where the three of them were residing and battered her to death. The suit alleges that Springer’s show created a "mood that led to murder," and that the show’s producers coaxed Campbell-Panitz to appear by falsely convincing her that her ex-husband wanted to reconcile with her. Three years ago, the "Jenny Jones" show was ordered to pay $25 million after a mentally unstable guest murdered another man who had confessed on air to having a crush on him.

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Ralf Panitz's Habeas Corpus
Filed In The District Court of Appeal
Second District of Florida