NORWICH – Peter M. Wlasiuk began his second round of appearances in Chenango County Court by requesting the judge who oversaw his conviction the first time to recuse himself from the case.
Wlasiuk, 37, was convicted in 2002 in the death of his wife, Patricia. Prosecutors said Wlasiuk killed his wife at their Oxford home and then staged a Guilford Lake drowning accident to cover it up in April of that year. This August, Wlasiuk won an appeal on the case, when a state Supreme Court Appellate Division ruled that he did not receive a fair trial the first time around.
Last Friday afternoon, Wlasiuk appeared in county court for a bail review pending his second trial. Wlasiuk was transferred from Attica to the Chenango County Correctional Facility, a day earlier on Sept. 21.
Before a the bail issue came before the court, Wlasiuk requested to have Honorable Judge Howard Sullivan removed from the case.
Public Defender Alan Gordon was asked by Wlasiuk’s current attorney, Linda Campbell, to stand in for her and represent Wlasiuk during the bail hearing. “I have no attorney, your honor,” said Wlasiuk.
Before bail could be addressed, Gordon requested that Sullivan remove himself from the case, citing past bias in the first trial that caused the appeal and quoting a few of Sullivan’s remarks as Wlasiuk was sentenced in 2003. “There were certainly negative comments made,” said Gordon. “Your honor, you are a very well-respected member of this community and carry great influence. The fact you made those comments will make it harder to find a jury,” said Gordon.
During the proceedings, Wlasiuk attempted many times to speak out for himself and was told to be quiet. “I don’t want to hear from you, Mr. Wlasiuk, at this time,” said Sullivan.
The proceedings were held in the small family court room in the county office building. It was filled with people, many of them grieving relatives of the victim’s family. Patricia’s family sat only a few yards from the defendant’s chair as Wlasiuk appeared in court. At one point, Wlasiuk was glancing behind him and emotional remarks where exchanged between him and a member of his late wife’s family. “What are you looking at? Turn around,” said a family member. Wlasiuk promptly interrupted his attorney and asked Sullivan to remove the man in question. “I ask this gentleman be removed, please,” said Wlasiuk. Sullivan told the man to be quiet and assured Wlasiuk everything was under control.
The proceedings came to a close with Gordon saying, “We really don’t know who will be representing Mr. Wlasiuk at this time.”
Wlasiuk also told the judge, “I will not answer any questions until my recuse (request to remove the judge) has been heard.”
Sullivan adjourned the court, declaring he would need approximately 10 days to consider removing himself from the case. At the end of the proceedings, a visibly confused and frustrated Wlasiuk looked over at his attorney and said, “What just happened? I don’t understand what just happened.”