Trial begins of Jerry Springer guest 'who killed ex-wife in love triangle'

The fevered world of the Jerry Springer Show, in which participants are encouraged to trade insults and even punches, intersected with the all-too-real world of love, jealousy and allegations of murder yesterday when a former guest went on trial in Florida accused of killing his ex-wife after they had appeared together on the programme.

Ralf Panitz, a German who lives in the United States, is accused of murdering his former wife, Nancy Campbell, in July 2000, three months after they recorded a segment on the show, and within hours of the segment being broadcast across the nation.

The story of Mr Panitz and his tangled love life had seemed ideal for an episode of Stringer entitled "Secret Mistresses Confronted".

Mr Panitz came on to the set with Ms Campbell, from whom he had separated a year earlier, and his new wife of only a month, Eleanor Panitz. Then he confessed he was still having sex with Ms Campbell.

"I had sex with my ex-wife yesterday, but I did that to keep her illusioned," Mr Panitz said on the show.

Jerry Springer asked: "Why? Why is it important to keep an illusion that you love her if you don't?"

Mr Panitz replied: "I wanted Nancy to go on the show ... A month ago I married Elli. I do love Eleanor." Mr Panitz said to Ms Campbell: "I care for you and don't wish you any harm. I just wanted you to know. Please let me go on with my life."

According to prosecutors, in the three months that followed the taping of the programme the love triangle turned from simply messy to murderous.

The final act began about two months after the show was taped when Mr and Mrs Panitz split up, having been married for barely three months. He then reconciled with Ms Campbell and they moved into a house together. A few weeks later, he invited another person to move in – Eleanor Panitz.

Ms Campbell responded by moving out and filing stalking charges against her rival.

On 24 July 2000, a judge in Sarasota, Florida, ruled in favour of Nancy Campbell, granting her exclusive use of the house. Mr and Mrs Panitz and a nephew, Marcus Panitz, were escorted to the house to collect their things. Then they went to a nearby bar to watch television – it was the day their segment on the Jerry Springer Show was broadcast.

Prosecutors claim that after watching the programme Ralf Panitz returned to the house with his wife and nephew. He then vanished for a while. Marcus, fearing that his uncle might have killed himself, called the police. When the officers arrived, the bloodied body of Nancy Campbell was on the kitchen floor.

The defence, headed by the celebrated lawyer Geoffrey Fieger, is expected to argue that Ms Campbell, who was 52, fell to the floor after suffering a heart attack. "He didn't do it," Mr Fieger said flatly before the trial began.

If Mr Panitz is convicted of first degree murder he could be imprisoned for life.