Content area
Full text
Joel Steinberg pleaded not guilty yesterday to charges that he killed his 6-year-old adopted daughter, Lisa. No bail application was made and Steinberg was returned to jail on Rikers Island following his arraignment on charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
His attorney said that Hedda Nussbaum, Steinberg's companion also charged with murder in Lisa's slaying, had conveyed her support for him with a message: "I miss you. I love you and the truth will set you free." But her attorneys disputed this.
Ira D. London, Steinberg's attorney, said Nussbaum's attorneys had told him of the message on Friday.
However, Andrew Farber, a student attorney working on Nussbaum's case, said yesterday that the statement was reversed and that Steinberg had told Nussbaum the truth would set her free.
London, who said he took copious notes of the Friday conversation, told Steinberg of Nussbaum's message Sunday and said Steinberg had responded with a message of his own.
"He misses Hedda terribly," London said. "He said he wished they could be together so they could both mourn the tragedy they have suffered in this case."
Nussbaum, who was hospitalized for...