Thomas found not guilty in retrial, East Greenbush board passes casino resolution, Cuomo cites "serious questions" about medical marijuana bill, defenestration alleged
Adrian Thomas was found not guilty of second-degree murder in the 2008 death of his infant son. Thomas had been found guilty in 2009, but a retrial of his case was prompted by a state Court of Appeals decision earlier this year that Troy police had used "a set of highly coercive deceptions" during their interrogation of Thomas to prompt him to talk and incriminate himself. In the new trial the jury did not see video of the police interrogation of Thomas or evidence/testimony from the detectives who questioned him. Said Thomas after the verdict of the interrogation: "It was a heartbreaking moment for a long time ... And at least for five years, I still have a lot of emotions for what they did. There's nothing I could say that could bring back five years ago. I'm ready to move on." [Troy Record] [TU] [News10]
Trinity Copeland -- the Troy teen found guilty of second-degree murder for the shooting death of her father -- was sentenced to 25 years to life, the maximum sentence. Copeland testified that her father told her to kill him and would have killed her if she hadn't -- she said at the sentencing: "I'm so sorry for what I did ... I know what I did was so unforgivable, but I just feel that no one understands what happened." Said judge Andrew Ceresia: "I didn't get any sense at all even here today that she accepts responsibility for what happened." [TU] [Troy Record] [News10]
The East Greenbush town board unanimously voted in favor of a resolution supporting the proposed casino on Thompson Hill Road. The special meeting included an overflow crowd and public comments critical of the proposal. Board members cited the potential tax revenue and economic benefits from the project for their support. [Biz Review] [TU] [Troy Record] [WNYT] [Daily Gazette]
The Schaghticoke man accused of killing his mother and stepfather in their home last summer -- and who his attorney says was described as "floridly psychotic" after his arrest -- was found competent to stand trial. [TU]
The state Court of Appeals -- the state's highest court -- reinstated a robbery conviction that grew out of a bizarre case at Colonie Center. [TU]
Albany police say three people have been arrested after an incident in which it's alleged a man was lured to an apartment via a website listing, found out the woman he was supposed to meet was actually a man, the suspects tried to rob him, and then he got pushed out of a window. [WNYT]
Comments from Andrew Cuomo, citing "serious questions," cast doubt on the fate of the medical marijuana bill in the state legislature. [TU]
Albany County exec Dan McCoy and the county legislature are apparently at odds about where to house the county board of elections offices. [TU]
How New York State has become a key part of the GMO food labeling situation. [AP/Daily Gazette]
The owners of the 300-acre Buckley Farm in Ballston are hoping to sell the land's development rights to the town, part of a plan to preserve open space. [Daily Gazette]
Students at Averill Park High School have built a 48-foot-long bridge out of cardboard and Elmer's glue. [WNYT]
... said KGB about Drawing: What's something that brought you joy this year?