According to the first police officers to arrive at the Hilltop Drive home of Svetlana and Robert Bell Saturday night, Svetlana had been shot and was lying on the kitchen floor, and Robert Bell, her husband, was in the living room.
Someone was performing CPR on Svetlana when police arrived, the court file says. This person's identity was redacted from the police report.
State Troopers John Artes and John Moreno said in their written arrest report they were sent to the Bell's New Fairfield house at about 7:18 p.m. for a reported domestic disturbance.
Robert Bell, 63, of New Fairfield, said in his 911 call to police he had shot his wife three or four times because she was coming at him with a knife. Police found a .38 caliber pistol in a holster on a chair. They found a loaded magzaine in Robert Bell's pocket.
He was immediately charged with disorderly conduct, and was read his rights at 8:16 p.m. — two minutes after his wife, Svetlana, was declared dead at Danbury Hospital, the report said.
Robert Bell was later charged with first-degree manslaughter with a firearm.
State Troopers Artes and Moreno said they went to the New Fairfield Resident Trooper's office to hear the 911 call. They heard Bell say he shot his wife three or four times because she was coming at her with a knife, according to court records. Police said in the background they could hear a woman's voice ask, "What have you done?"
Robert Bell was arraigned in state Superior Court at Danbury Monday. He was represented by Public Defender Mark Johnson before Superior Court Judge John Blawie. Making an argument to keep bond below $500,000, Johnson noted that Robert Bell has no prior criminal record, has family in the area, he earned a bachelor's degree and held the same job for 14 years before retiring.
In the end, Judge Blawie set bond at $750,000 and ordered that Bell surrender his passport and obey a protective order to have no contact with his daughter. His case was continued to Jan. 7 at state Superior Court at Danbury.
Svetlana Bell, 47, was a music teacher at Wilton's Cider Mill School, and a member of the Danbury Symphony Orchestra.
Robert Bell is retired, and he last worked for 14 years with Beta Squared Lithography on Federal Road in Brookfield.
ADDITIONAL COVERAGE
- VIDEO: Robert Bell Arraigned in Fatal New Fairfield Shooting
- Beyond the Headlines: Wilton Parents Struggle with News of a Teacher's Death
- Principal: Counseling Available to Students Following Teacher's Death
- Reports: Wilton Music Teacher Fatally Shot by Husband in New Fairfield
