Beverly Man Arraigned for Allegedly Murdering Estranged Wife

The charges against a Beverly man were upgraded to murder after his estranged wife died from injuries she sustained in an alleged attack last week.

Axel Scherer, 45, of Beverly, was arraigned on Tuesday morning in Salem District Court for first degree murder and was ordered held without bail.

Judge Emily Karstetter dismissed the assault with intent to murder and strangulation charges against the defendant at the request of Essex Assistant District Attorney James Gubitose because they are superseded by the new charge.

Edith Black-Scherer, 45, died on Saturday evening after she was allegedly attacked and strangled by the defendant in her Beverly home on November 16. She had been transported to Beverly Hospital that evening and she remained there until she died over the weekend.

The defendant is represented by Attorney Michael Phelan and is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The case is scheduled for a probable cause hearing on January 15, 2016.