First wife testifies suspect
feared losing kids

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By Gregg K. Kakesako
gkakesako@starbulletin.com

Navy Petty Officer David DeArmond, charged with murdering his second wife and her mother, couldn't seek a divorce from her because he feared losing custody of his three children, his first wife said at a Navy hearing.

Jeanette William-Wallace, DeArmond's first wife, testified yesterday at an Article 32 hearing at Pearl Harbor that ended after three days. DeArmond is accused of murdering his second wife, Zaleha DeArmond, 31, and her mother, Saniah Binte Abdul Ghani, 66, on June 10.

Marine Maj. Michael Mori, the investigating officer, will determine whether there is enough evidence to require DeArmond to face a court-martial.

William-Wallace said DeArmond believed that his Singapore-born wife was seeing sailors whom she met at a Pearl Harbor "single sailors' bar," where she worked as a waitress.

William-Wallace said DeArmond told her that his wife had even invited "a guy home for Thanksgiving dinner last year." However, William-Wallace didn't know if the appointment was ever kept.

Last year, William-Wallace said, she suggested that DeArmond divorce his second wife, but he refused, saying he was afraid that she would leave him and flee to Singapore, taking with her the couple's two boys, ages 2 and 5, and a 3-year-old daughter.

"He wanted to divorce her," William-Wallace said, "but he was afraid ... He wanted to, but he couldn't. He wanted the kids. She had too much power and he had none ... She wore the pants."

DeArmond is being held in the Ford Island brig.

DeArmond, 32, could face the death penalty if convicted by a court-martial because murder in the military is a capital offense under certain circumstances.

Yesterday, William-Wallace said she never meant for DeArmond to be arrested and charged with domestic abuse in San Diego following an argument the couple had on Thanksgiving Day on Nov. 24, 1994. DeArmond was placed on three months' probation after pleading guilty to domestic abuse and choking William-Wallace.

William-Wallace said the argument started when she suggested pawning her wedding ring to pay for baby formula to feed their 9-month-old daughter, Mary.

"He (DeArmond) thought I was going to sell it because he thought I didn't love him."