Gionis Asks to See Child in Private

A judge heard a request Thursday from Dr. Thomas A. Gionis, charged in the beatings of his ex-wife, Aissa Wayne, and her boyfriend, that the surgeon be allowed unmonitored visits with the couple’s 2-year-old daughter.

Judge Ronald E. Owen was surprised to discover that Gionis already had been getting occasional unmonitored visits.

Two private investigators, assigned as court-appointed monitors, testified that they had each decided independently to let Gionis have some privacy when he and his parents or sister visit with the child. Both said that Owen had given them that discretion.

But Owen, shaking his head, said after Thursday’s hearing that “it was never my intent to leave the baby alone with the doctor.”

Attorney Judi A. Curtin, assigned to represent the child, Anastasia, told the court that she was “simply amazed” at the revelation and opposed any unmonitored visits.

Owen took under submission Gionis’ request that the monitoring be dropped and said he would announce his decision soon.

Gionis, 36, is awaiting trial next February on charges that he hired two men to beat up Wayne and her boyfriend at the time, Roger W. Luby. The two were assaulted in front of Luby’s home on Oct. 3, 1988. Wayne is the daughter of the late actor John Wayne.

The doctor, a wealthy orthopedic surgeon when the charges were filed against him, has since gone into bankruptcy and now has an income of $3,000 a month, according to his sister, Xanthi Gionis, who is also his business manager.

At one point in their divorce feud, Gionis had custody. But the girl is now in her mother’s custody, with Gionis permitted several visits each month. Owen appointed Henry Galindo and Daniel Santa Maria to be with Gionis to monitor the visits after hearing evidence that Gionis might flee to avoid prosecution and take the child with him.

Attorney Curtin argued that both men have become so close to Gionis that they are no longer objective.

Both monitors testified that they have great respect for Gionis and his parents and sister. Galindo called Gionis “sincere, dedicated, an honest man.” Santa Maria called Gionis and his family “very good people, very caring for one another.”

Galindo, who appeared offended at questions from Wayne’s lawyer and from Curtin, said he would not permit the doctor to be alone with the child if he thought anything could go wrong.

“I told the doctor, ‘You cross me, I’ll shoot you,’ ” Galindo said.

While Wayne was present for the hearing, Gionis was not.