Wlasiuk murder trial resumes with day 10 of testimony
NORWICH – Testimony in the trial of accused murderer Peter Wlasiuk is scheduled to resume today, with the prosecution set to wrap-up its case by today or early tomorrow, according to Chenango County District Attorney Joseph McBride.
It’s alleged that Wlasiuk, in April of 2002, murdered his wife, Patricia, at the couple’s Oxford home, later driving or pushing his 1998 GMC pick-up truck into the waters of Guilford Lake in an effort to conceal the crime. According to Wlasiuk, his wife was driving the truck when she swerved to miss a deer while travelling east on County Road 35, afterward veering into the lake. The defense alleges Patricia Wlasiuk drowned. According to the district attorney’s office, Wlasiuk smothered his wife to death and later changed his story, stating Patricia had purposely driven into the lake as the couple argued.
This is the third full week of testimony in the case against Wlasiuk – charged with second degree murder – who could face up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted. Two previous convictions, in 2003 and 2008, were successfully appealed, in 2006 and 2011, respectively.
He is currently being held at the Chenango County Correctional Facility.
On Thursday, members of the jury heard testimony focused primarily on DNA evidence analyzed by the New York State Police Crime Lab in 2002, including information that hairs located on a burdock branch at Wlasiuk’s Oxford home were a match to Patricia. According to forensic scientist and DNA analyst John Brenner, a total of six hairs were able to be analyzed by the crime lab, four of which were a perfect match for Wlasiuk’s wife. In addition, hairs allegedly discovered in the bed of Wlasiuk’s truck – while less consistent in their analysis – were most likely Patricia’s as well. The odds that someone else would have the same DNA profile as Patricia, testified Brenner: approximately one in 280 billion.
Additional testimony on Thursday included Chenango County Sheriff’s Office Undersheriff James Lloyd’s cross examination and that of Steven Schweichler, who was living with friends Thomas and Jessica Becker at their Guilford Lake residence the night of the incident. The Beckers – and Schweichler – were awakened in the early morning hours of April 3, 2002, when Wlasiuk began banging on their front door. According to Schweichler, Wlasiuk seemed “kind of incoherent” following the alleged crash, and he “couldn’t get an answer out of him.”
Thomas Becker and Schweichler – joined by Wlasiuk – were the first on the scene. Schweichler, attempting to locate Patricia’s body from the lake, said the waters were so cold that they took his breath away. Wlasiuk, he added, told him not to enter the water, stating it was “too cold” and “too dangerous.”
The trial resumed at 9 a.m. today in the Chenango County Courthouse.
It’s alleged that Wlasiuk, in April of 2002, murdered his wife, Patricia, at the couple’s Oxford home, later driving or pushing his 1998 GMC pick-up truck into the waters of Guilford Lake in an effort to conceal the crime. According to Wlasiuk, his wife was driving the truck when she swerved to miss a deer while travelling east on County Road 35, afterward veering into the lake. The defense alleges Patricia Wlasiuk drowned. According to the district attorney’s office, Wlasiuk smothered his wife to death and later changed his story, stating Patricia had purposely driven into the lake as the couple argued.
This is the third full week of testimony in the case against Wlasiuk – charged with second degree murder – who could face up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted. Two previous convictions, in 2003 and 2008, were successfully appealed, in 2006 and 2011, respectively.
He is currently being held at the Chenango County Correctional Facility.
On Thursday, members of the jury heard testimony focused primarily on DNA evidence analyzed by the New York State Police Crime Lab in 2002, including information that hairs located on a burdock branch at Wlasiuk’s Oxford home were a match to Patricia. According to forensic scientist and DNA analyst John Brenner, a total of six hairs were able to be analyzed by the crime lab, four of which were a perfect match for Wlasiuk’s wife. In addition, hairs allegedly discovered in the bed of Wlasiuk’s truck – while less consistent in their analysis – were most likely Patricia’s as well. The odds that someone else would have the same DNA profile as Patricia, testified Brenner: approximately one in 280 billion.
Additional testimony on Thursday included Chenango County Sheriff’s Office Undersheriff James Lloyd’s cross examination and that of Steven Schweichler, who was living with friends Thomas and Jessica Becker at their Guilford Lake residence the night of the incident. The Beckers – and Schweichler – were awakened in the early morning hours of April 3, 2002, when Wlasiuk began banging on their front door. According to Schweichler, Wlasiuk seemed “kind of incoherent” following the alleged crash, and he “couldn’t get an answer out of him.”
Thomas Becker and Schweichler – joined by Wlasiuk – were the first on the scene. Schweichler, attempting to locate Patricia’s body from the lake, said the waters were so cold that they took his breath away. Wlasiuk, he added, told him not to enter the water, stating it was “too cold” and “too dangerous.”
The trial resumed at 9 a.m. today in the Chenango County Courthouse.
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