By Brandie Kessler, bkessler@pottsmerc.com

Joseph Kramer, in prison for allegedly killing his estranged wife, Amy Lynn Camacho-Marchionne, in her Pottstown home Oct. 24, had been charged at least twice before for allegedly assaulting her.

"This case, in the first place, was pretty reprehensible," said Berks County Assistant District Attorney Jay M. Kurtz.

Kurtz was assigned to prosecute the assault charges filed against Kramer in June for an incident that occurred in the 200 block of Old Route 100 on June 28. According to court records Amy Lynn told Kramer to not go for a ride on his bike because he had been drinking, when he assaulted her.

Kramer "grabbed (Amy Lynn) by the throat and pushed her head off the wall", "threw her down to the ground and started choking her", "punched her in the jaw and left side of her head" and "kicked her in the side of her head," according to court documents.

Joseph also allegedly threatened Amy Lynn with a gun during the same incident, retrieving a gun, chambering a round and then allegedly stating to Amy Lynn, "I'll kill you, you (expletive), everything you've done to me I should kill you, but I love you."

Court documents indicate Kramer then took the gun into the bedroom where he'd retrieved it from and fired a round into the ceiling.

Kurtz was in the courtroom prosecuting the charges against Kramer during his preliminary hearing in Boyertown. He said Amy Lynn testified against Kramer, despite visible injuries he'd caused to her, including multiple facial fractures which required a metal plate be put in her face.

"What especially made this bad in my estimation, was he (Kramer) had just days prior been before the same judge for summary charges" also related to assault against Amy Lynn, Kurtz said, referencing the preliminary hearing for the June 28 charges.

Kurtz said the recent events support the unfortunate trend of domestic violence: it starts small and gets bigger.

"There's absolutely no excuse or reason for any of this stuff to happen, it's despicable," he said.

Kurtz called the case against Kramer egregious. "Our office, at this point, plans to prosecute him to the fullest extent. We're not planning on dropping the matter, that's for sure."

Kramer also faces charges of first-, second-, and third-degree murder, abuse of corpse, tampering with evidence, attempted rape and attempted involuntary deviate sexual intercourse in connection with Amy Lynn's murder Oct. 24 inside of her home in the 700 block of North Adams Street.

Kramer allegedly told police he used his hands to choke the woman, then he used a rope to choke her.

Kramer allegedly told police he choked his wife after arguing with her about a Sears' credit card bill.

At the time of the murder, Kramer was prohibited from having contact with his wife by a protection from abuse order, filed in Berks County Court following the incident in June. The PFA was finalized on July 24 and was to remain in effect until July 24, 2009.

Kurtz received the news of Amy Lynn's death when his boss called him at home Saturday, Oct. 25. He said he was stunned by the news.

"It's just horrible, I just felt so bad about this," he said.