The prosecution entered week 2 today in its sixth day of testimony in the murder trial of Allen Blackthorne. Blackthorne, 45, faces federal murder-for-hire and interstate domestic violence charges in the November 1997 killing of his ex-wife Sheila Bellush. The Sarasota mother of six, including quadruplets, was found shot and stabbed in her Gulf Gate home.

     The jury, like the rest of us, had the weekend off to collect their thoughts. One thing the jury didn't hear was an earlier defense plan that Blackthorne seemed to abandon at trial. Allen Blackthorne and his wife Maureen in an interview with me last summer and in several subsequent conversations since has raised several questions about Bellush's widower, Jamie Bellush. They claim he wasn't thoroughly investigated. In fact some holes did exist in his story, but Sarasota detectives immediately ruled him out as a suspect. Blackthorne's attorney Richard Lubin did ask Bellush about life insurance policies on Sheila. Jamie collected about $316,000 and says he invested it for the kids' college fund. Jamie is the father of the quadruplets, Timmy, Joey, Frankie and Courtney.

     Within days of Sheila's funeral, Jamie sent Daryl to live with her aunt in Oregon. Allen Blackthorne had terminated his parental rights in July 1997.

     Moving to Salem proved a success for Daryl who continues to thrive with her aunt Kerry, Uncle Rick and four cousins. This week when the family came together in Texas, reliving the tragedy that tore them apart actually helped bring them back together. Jamie apologized to Daryl, who finally stuck up for herself. She told him his apology had come two years too late and cost her that time with her brothers and sisters. Jamie saw that Daryl had grown into an intelligent, grounded young woman. Relatives tell me he is already making plans to have her and the rest of Sheila's famly come visit this summer in New Jersey.