S. Whitehall Doctor Pleads Not Guilty of Trying to Kill Son-in-law

South Whitehall anesthesiologist Georges J. Bensimhon on Tuesday pleaded not guilty to charges he attempted to murder his son-in-law in suburban Cleveland, according to news reports.

Bensimhon, 66, of the 1400 block of Shelburne Court, is charged with clubbing his son-in-law in the head with a metal crow bar on Sept. 4.

According to police, Bensimhon, who was wearing a black ski mask and latex gloves, waited in the bushes outside Seth Alan Hoffer's home in Cleveland Heights the morning of the attack.

Hoffer, a 39-year-old Cleveland neurosurgeon, told police he was walking to his car when he was attacked by a masked man. As Hoffer fought back, the attacker yelled, "Alan, get off me. I can't breathe," according to police. Hoffer said that's when he recognized his father-in-law's voice, police said.

Hoffer and Bensimhon's daughter, Danielle, are involved in a divorce and custody battle over their daughter, police said. Hoffer's father told police Bensimhon has threatened his son in the past.

Bensimhon faces one count each of attempted aggravated murder and attempted murder, and two counts each of kidnapping and felonious assault.

Bensimhon was freed on $750,000 bond and has been placed on house arrest and will be confined to his South Whitehall home by electronic monitoring as part of his bond conditions, according to the Morning Call.