Barry Bonds' ex-mistress testifies he threatened to cut her head off

The former mistress of home-run slugger Barry Bonds testified tearfully at a federal trial Monday that Bonds verbally and physically abused her after he began using steroids around 2000, seven years before he broke the record for lifetime home runs.

Kimberly Bell, who was romantically involved with Bonds for about nine years, told the jury Bonds threatened to cut off her head, cut out her breast implants and to burn her house when he could not reach her by telephone.

"He was just very controlling," said Bell, her voice breaking with emotion. Under questioning by a prosecutor, Bell testified that Bonds told her he was using steroids sometime in 1999 to 2000.

After he began taking the drugs, he became aggressive, impatient and abusive, Bell testified. She said his testicles also shrank and that he became unable to perform sexually.

Bell said she became Bonds' lover before his second marriage, and they continued their relationship during that marriage. Bell told the predominantly female jury that Bonds broke up with her in 2003 in a telephone call when he told her "to disappear."

She testified that Monday in court was the first time she had seen the retired San Francisco Giant. On cross-examination, a defense attorney asked Bell if she had a "tremendous amount of practice" telling her story because she had told it in at least 20 media interviews. Bell acknowledged doing lots of interviews.

"On how many of those radio shows did you cry when describing this information?" asked Cristina Arguedas, a member of Bonds' defense team. "None, right?"

Bell, a star witness, attracted many spectators. The courtroom was full before the trial even started, and an overflow room for public viewing was crowded when Bell took the stand.

Bonds is accused of lying to a grand jury in 2003 when he testified that he did not knowingly take steroids.

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-- Maura Dolan in San Francisco

Photo: Barry Bonds on March 1, 2011, arriving at a federal courthouse in San Francisco. Credit: Jeff Chiu / Associated Press. Kimberly Bell on March 17, 2006, leaving federal court in San Francisco. Credit: Frederic Larson / Associated Press

Comments

[Bob]

Bonds is a slimeball. Say goodbye to Hall of Fame. Say hello to asterisks beside your name forever.

You might even be saying hello to prison. Couldn't happen to more deserving scumbag.

[jay]

wow, no wonder his teammates didn't like him so much

[KA]

Granted Bonds is no angel, but this woman is an idiot. She's the mistress during marriage #1, then he goes onto marry someone else, and she's still the mistress! She did this for 9 years... even after being mistreated/threatened she still stuck around...hmmmm.

[Greg Maragos]

If this man is inducted into the Hall of Fame, there is something seriously wrong with the world.

[chach]

regardless of all this jazz. dude is an amazing player.
still got his hologram dennys baseball card.

[Bond's fan]

Take away his awards

[Bon Iver]

I used to wish that Alex Rodriguez would beat Bonds' homerun record. Now I realize that everyone used steriods in baseball during that time - Alex Rodriguez included.

[baseball fan]

saw this guy at a minor league game refuse to sign an autograph for a little kid (like 6 or 7) who walked up near his seat and asked politely - nice, you could say klassy even

[Gavin Dossier]

Who's Barry Bonds?

[Mark]

For about a million reasons, if found gulity, Mr. Bond's & every other "professional user" must be given the maximum sentance provided for by law.

[H]

It should be that players inducted to the baseball hall of fame demonstrate a history of physical accomplishments and, more importantly, his team respect by leadership, honest behavior, and teaching.

Mr. Bonds is a selfish man that can never grace the halls of those before him. He made his baseball family heritage joke. A narcissist at heart I hope that his roids, attitude, and behavior will never let him enjoy the asterisk. No love lost by his Giants teammates for sure.

Like Pete Rose you reap what you sow.

[JAB]

That blows my hair back!
(Hank Aaron & Roger Maris are the true record holders of the top 2 HR feats.)

[REEPER]

my tax dollars should be stoping real criminals!

[Zack J]

Goodbye Hall of Fame say hello to prison bonds

[Jake]

If you follow baseball you know that Barry Bonds was probably the greatest hitter of all time. Did he take steroids? Probably. Does it change much in my mind? No

[Olden Atwoody]

She should have been avoided in the first place:

1. According to Chinese face reading techniques, examine her skewed expression and mismatched drooping eyelids. The distortions reflect emotional and health unbalance in her life.

2. Note that she wears a ring on her Saturn (middle) finger. Adding a metal 'antenna' to the finger representing the heaviest planet (the 'Father' in classical astrology), she creates tremendous burden in her life.

This woman is t-r-o-u-b-l-e.

PS I didn't write the rules. I merely report what I see according to them.

[NJ]

IN the time I was with him he couldnt have been kinder. Sure he had his shortcomings but it certainly wasnt sexually. And yes he had an increasing temper. I'm just saying he wasnt a bad guy, guys........

[Trish]

Stupid lying woman, she is just trying to make trouble because he dumped her or something.