Witness Tells of Role in Laguna ‘War of Roses’ : Crime: ‘Gentle giant’ tells how he became embroiled in couple’s marital dispute. Ex-wife is charged with conspiracy, burglary, assault with deadly weapon.

A man described as “a gentle giant” and “a laid-back guy” testified Tuesday that he became embroiled in a Laguna Beach couple’s “War of the Roses” marital dispute as an act of “friendship” for the ex-wife.

Helen Westin Ruppert, 61, the ex-wife, is charged with conspiracy, burglary, assault with a deadly weapon and extortion. Prosecutors allege that she had two men intimidate her ex-husband, Harold Ruppert, into signing a property settlement at their home earlier this year. If convicted, she faces up to six years in prison.

Ralph Thomas Pueschel, 30, testified that he was asked by the defendant to be “an intimidating presence” when he and a second man, Richard William Nimmo, pressured Harold Ruppert to sign the papers. Pueschel and Nimmo have already pleaded guilty to their part in the Jan. 22 incident and served time in jail.

In earlier statements, Harold Ruppert told authorities that several moments before Pueschel and Nimmo arrived at his house, his ex-wife called him from her half of the house and asked: “Are you ready to settle yet?”

According to court documents and Tuesday’s testimony, Nimmo threatened Harold Ruppert with a lighted highway flare.

Pueschel, who pleaded guilty, served two months in the Orange County Jail for his part in the incident; Nimmo served three months. Both men were subsequently placed on probation.

The Rupperts, who were married for 3 1/2 years, spent five more years together after their 1986 divorce in walled off sections of the same house while a final property settlement remained unresolved. Minutes after the two men got Harold Ruppert to sign the settlement papers, he called the police and the pair were arrested.

The soft-spoken, 6-foot-6, 225-pound Pueschel was described by Ruppert’s attorney, Gary M. Pohlson, as a “gentle giant” and “laid-back guy.”

Pueschel testified that he became acquainted with Helen Ruppert 13 years ago through her son from a previous marriage, spending weekends at the Ruppert home and later serving as the son’s best man. He was also acquainted with Harold Ruppert, he said.

Pueschel said that Helen Ruppert called him at his Grand Terrace home in San Bernardino County in late January and that she asked him to come to Orange County to help her with the settlement.

Pueschel testified that Helen Ruppert asked for his help, rather than her son’s, because her son had a temper and she “wanted a docile presence.” Pueschel said Ruppert “didn’t want him hurt. She didn’t want any violence. She just wanted the papers signed.”

Pueschel said that if he had known that the highway flare was going to be used as a weapon, he would not have participated.

He said he first saw the two flares a few minutes before arriving at the Ruppert home. When Nimmo removed the flares from his jacket, he handed one flare to Pueschel and told him, “These are going to help us get the job done, will help scare him into signing the papers,” Pueschel testified.

Under cross-examination by Pohlson, Pueschel said that Helen Ruppert had never used the word “scare” in her instructions to Pueschel.

Pueschel said he left the flare Nimmo gave him under his seat in the car.

Inside the house, after Nimmo lighted the flare and threatened Harold Ruppert--holding the flame about a foot from his body--Pueschel said the 65-year-old victim’s hands shook, and “he got very white in the face.”

Testimony in the trial continues today.