A 63-year-old New Fairfield man accused of shooting and killing his wife told police that he shot her because she was coming at him with a knife, according to the police report.
Robert Bell appeared in Danbury Superior Court on Monday morning, where his bond was set at $750,000 and he was ordered to have no contact with his daughter.
State police found Svetlana Bell, 47, dead on the kitchen floor of her 8 Hilltop Road home after her husband, Robert Bell, called police to report the shooting around 7 p.m. on Saturday, police said.
Robert Bell told police that he and his wife were involved in an altercation, causing him to shoot her approximately four times, police said.
Svetlana suffered gunshot wounds to the chest was pronounced dead at Danbury Hospital at 8:14 p.m.
Officers found a knife by her body, according to information released in court.
Svetlana Bell was a music teacher at Cider Mill School in Wilton.
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"We were deeply saddened to learn of the tragic death of Cider Mill Cider Mill music teacher Svetlana Bell. Svetlana had been a member of our staff since 2006. I wanted to let you know that we will have counseling services available Monday as we process the loss of our friend and colleague. At this time we have no information about services, but we will make this known as it becomes available. I know I speak for us all when I say that our thoughts and prayers are with Svetlana’s family," Gary Richards, superintendent of Wilton Public Schools, said In a statement.
Robert Bell has been charged with first-degree manslaughter with a firearm and disorderly conduct. Police said he had a magazine loaded with ammunition in one of his pants pockets.
He has been ordered to have no contact with their high-school age daughter, who was apparently home when the fight and shooting happened.
Bell is due back in court on Jan. 7.
