CANTON, N.Y. (AP) - The Latest on the murder case against a black former college soccer coach in New York (all times local):
11:55 a.m.
A New York prosecutor says she still believes a former college soccer coach acquitted of killing of his ex-girlfriend’s 12-year-old son is guilty.
On Wednesday, Oral “Nick” Hillary was found not guilty of second-degree murder in the October 2011 killing of Garrett Phillips. St. Lawrence County District Attorney Mary Rain said at a news conference afterward that she remains certain Hillary committed the crime.
Hillary hugged his lawyer and cried as Judge Felix Catena made his ruling. He thanked his lawyers, supporters and family outside court.
The boy was choked to death in an apartment in Potsdam, a college town near the Canadian border. Prosecutors relied on a circumstantial case. Critics said authorities in the largely white community unjustly prosecuted Hillary, who’s black.
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10:15 a.m.
A black former college soccer coach accused of killing of his ex-girlfriend’s 12-year-old son has been found not guilty in New York.
Oral “Nick” Hillary was tried for second-degree murder in the 2011 killing of Garrett Phillips. Hillary hugged his lawyer and cried Wednesday morning as Judge Felix Catena made his ruling.
The boy was choked to death in an apartment in Potsdam, a college town near the Canadian border. Prosecutors lacked DNA or fingerprint evidence and relied on a largely circumstantial case.
Hillary’s lawyers argued the case was weak and repeated the claims of critics who said authorities in the largely white community unjustly prosecuted him.
Hillary was the head soccer coach at Clarkson University. He and his daughter had lived with Garrett’s mother until the relationship ended.
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1 a.m.
A judge in northern New York is scheduled to announce his verdict in the murder case against a black former college soccer coach accused of killing of his ex-girlfriend’s 12-year-old son.
Judge Felix Catena will decide Wednesday if the largely circumstantial evidence presented by prosecutors is enough to convict Oral “Nick” Hillary of second-degree murder in the killing of Garrett Phillips. The boy was choked to death in an apartment in Potsdam, a college town near the Canadian border, in 2011.
Hillary’s lawyers argued the case is “riddled with doubt” and repeated the claims of critics who said authorities in the largely white community unjustly prosecuted him.
Hillary was the head soccer coach at Clarkson University. He and his daughter had lived with Garrett’s mother until the relationship ended in summer 2011.
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