Local News in Brief : Defense Rests in Honeymoon Murder

An attorney defending a Santa Monica man accused of murdering his wife on their honeymoon cruise abruptly concluded his defense Tuesday after introducing a single exhibit showing that two Israeli nationals were aboard for the cruise from San Pedro to Mexico. No witnesses were called.

David Kenner, attorney for chiropractor Scott Roston, said the exhibit also shows that the two men, whom he has not called to testify, booked passage on the Stardancer at or after the time that Scott and Karen Roston made their reservations.

Roston, accused of strangling his new wife and throwing her body overboard, has said that Israeli agents drugged him and murdered his wife in retribution for a book he wrote about human rights abuses in Israel.

Kenner rested his case within minutes after the government concluded the prosecution. The two Israelis, Kenner said, were traced as far as New York, where they were scheduled to board a plane for Israel. The defense has no power to subpoena witnesses in Israel, he said.