NORWICH– The felony hearing for an accused murderer was held today in Norwich City Court which brought many new details to light. Daniel L. Brown, 45, 56 Henry St., was arrested and charged with second degree murder (a class A-1 felony) for allegedly killing his landlord, Tammy L. Periard.
District Attorney Joseph McBride called two witnesses at the hearing: Norwich Assistant Chief Dale C. Smith and Norwich Police Officer Gard Turner. Brown’s public defender, John Cameron, called none.
Cameron made motions to dismiss the public from the hearing, based on the fact it could hurt his client’s chances to get a fair jury at trial. The motion was denied. Cameron also moved to dismiss the charges on grounds that the felony complaint failed to recognize the facts of the crime, but that was also denied.
Judge James Downey ruled that there was enough reasonable cause to support that Brown be handed over to County Court for grand jury indictment.
Police said they received a phone call from Chenango Memorial Hospital on March 28. The call apparently was made by Brown himself a day after Periard disappearance. “He said he did make the call, because he felt we needed help to find the body,” said Turner.
The prosecution said that all these statements made to Turner by Brown had been recorded by the video and audio surveillance system at the police department.
Turner testified that Brown made several incriminating statements to him while being held in the department’s booking room. “I was told not to speak with him at all,” the officer said. Brown had asked for a lawyer earlier, and by law, police are not allowed to question someone who has asked for an attorney.
Turner was to watch Brown while police waited for a search warrant for his apartment and to make sure he didn’t destroy any evidence, such as biting his finger nails. However, Turner said Brown made “several unprovoked” statements. Brown allegedly told police he had “a guilty conscience.” Turner also testified that Brown told him that the family of Periard should pay him the $10,000 reward for telling police where to find her.
Turner also testified that Brown spontaneously uttered to him, “You guys know I’m guilty.” Brown then allegedly told the officer about the murder weapon used: “He said there was a stick about this long (Turner held up his hands about 30 inches apart) with tape wrapped around one end in his back yard. ‘It’s what I used to whack her in the head with’ I think he said,” Turner testified.
The officer also said that Brown told him he did not sexually abuse Periard and that he “wanted us to know that.”
Officer Turner said that Brown remarked how well the police had treated him, and allegedly said Periard was "a nice person who was just in the wrong place at the wrong time." Turner also made an observational note saying Brown appeared calm and at peace.
Brown also allegedly told police that he was taking on average about 30 hydrocodone a day, a strong prescription pain killer.
Bail is to be set by the Chenango County Court, and Brown was remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility.