Ramsaran defense denied motion to dismiss, cause of death undetermined
NORWICH - Various motions filed by the defense of Ganesh R. Ramsaran – the 38-year-old New Berlin man charged with the murder of his wife, Jennifer – were all denied Oct. 18 by Chenango County Court Judge Frank B. Revoir Jr. Additionally, it was revealed the medical examiner ultimately was not able to identify the cause of death of Jennifer Ramsaran.
Ganesh R. Ramsaran was charged in May, 2013 with second degree murder, a class A-I violent felony and according Chenango County District Attorney Joseph McBride, he is facing 25 years to life in prison if convicted.
Jennifer Ramsaran was first reported missing on Dec. 11, 2012 by the defendant when it was stated she did not return from a shopping trip to Syracuse. The following day, Ramsaran located his late wife's cell phone in the Town of Plymouth – 20 feet from the road in a rocky area near Canasawacta Creek.
According to a decision and order report from County Court Judge Frank Revoir, Jr., on Dec. 16, Jennifer's vehicle was located parked at Plank Road Manor in Norwich, where DNA analysis later identified blood “throughout the vehicle” as belonging to Jennifer.
More than two months later, on Feb. 26, 2013, Jennifer's body was discovered off Center Road in the Town of Pharsalia.
Onondaga County's Chief Medical Examiner performed the autopsy and for reasons that include degradation and decomposition of the body, he was not able to determine the cause of death. The medical examiner did conclude – based on information gathered – that Jennifer was the victim of a homicide.
“Circumstantial evidence was presented linking the defendant to the homicide,” the report reads.
The defense requested that the prosecution provide a more detailed Bill of Particulars – a list of specific information regarding the case. The prosecution was asked to provide a factual statement to the defense showing the manner, mode or means by which the defendant allegedly killed his wife.
The prosecution provided other information regarding the case, but not the manner in which the alleged homicide was committed.
The medical examiner had testified before the grand jury that he was unable to identify the cause of death.
Ultimately, the court determined the information provided by the prosecution to the defense was satisfactory.
“This is the first time in my life in a homicide case where I have not been told by the prosecutor how my client has allegedly killed his wife,” said F. Stanton Ackerman, Ramsaran's defense attorney. “It is conjecture, speculation.”
Judge Revoir denied the defense's motion to dismiss or reduce the indictment, and also denied the motion requesting the grand jury minutes from the May indictment, stating the grand jury minutes provided by the prosecution to the court “are without defects that warrant reduction or dismissal of the indictment.”
An additional motion to dismiss the indictment was filed in August by the defense on the grounds that local attorney Diane Distefano testified before the grand jury, and that she had been contacted by the late Jennifer Ramsaran to discuss a divorce from the defendant. The motion read that because of this contact, there was an attorney-client privilege breach.
Revoir's decision stated Distefano testified as a “knowledgeable matrimonial attorney, not as Jennifer Ramsaran's matrimonial attorney,” and denied the motion.
“If there was a way for me to immediately appeal the court's denial to my right to a proper Bill of Particulars so that I am able to properly defend my client, I would do so,” said Ackerman.
“We are set to go in November,” said McBride. “The People are ready to move forward.”
Ramsaran is currently remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility in lieu of $500,000 cash or $1,000,000 in property bonds. The defense filed for a reduction of bail but denied by the court in September.
Ramsaran will appear in court at a later date.
Ganesh R. Ramsaran was charged in May, 2013 with second degree murder, a class A-I violent felony and according Chenango County District Attorney Joseph McBride, he is facing 25 years to life in prison if convicted.
Jennifer Ramsaran was first reported missing on Dec. 11, 2012 by the defendant when it was stated she did not return from a shopping trip to Syracuse. The following day, Ramsaran located his late wife's cell phone in the Town of Plymouth – 20 feet from the road in a rocky area near Canasawacta Creek.
According to a decision and order report from County Court Judge Frank Revoir, Jr., on Dec. 16, Jennifer's vehicle was located parked at Plank Road Manor in Norwich, where DNA analysis later identified blood “throughout the vehicle” as belonging to Jennifer.
More than two months later, on Feb. 26, 2013, Jennifer's body was discovered off Center Road in the Town of Pharsalia.
Onondaga County's Chief Medical Examiner performed the autopsy and for reasons that include degradation and decomposition of the body, he was not able to determine the cause of death. The medical examiner did conclude – based on information gathered – that Jennifer was the victim of a homicide.
“Circumstantial evidence was presented linking the defendant to the homicide,” the report reads.
The defense requested that the prosecution provide a more detailed Bill of Particulars – a list of specific information regarding the case. The prosecution was asked to provide a factual statement to the defense showing the manner, mode or means by which the defendant allegedly killed his wife.
The prosecution provided other information regarding the case, but not the manner in which the alleged homicide was committed.
The medical examiner had testified before the grand jury that he was unable to identify the cause of death.
Ultimately, the court determined the information provided by the prosecution to the defense was satisfactory.
“This is the first time in my life in a homicide case where I have not been told by the prosecutor how my client has allegedly killed his wife,” said F. Stanton Ackerman, Ramsaran's defense attorney. “It is conjecture, speculation.”
Judge Revoir denied the defense's motion to dismiss or reduce the indictment, and also denied the motion requesting the grand jury minutes from the May indictment, stating the grand jury minutes provided by the prosecution to the court “are without defects that warrant reduction or dismissal of the indictment.”
An additional motion to dismiss the indictment was filed in August by the defense on the grounds that local attorney Diane Distefano testified before the grand jury, and that she had been contacted by the late Jennifer Ramsaran to discuss a divorce from the defendant. The motion read that because of this contact, there was an attorney-client privilege breach.
Revoir's decision stated Distefano testified as a “knowledgeable matrimonial attorney, not as Jennifer Ramsaran's matrimonial attorney,” and denied the motion.
“If there was a way for me to immediately appeal the court's denial to my right to a proper Bill of Particulars so that I am able to properly defend my client, I would do so,” said Ackerman.
“We are set to go in November,” said McBride. “The People are ready to move forward.”
Ramsaran is currently remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility in lieu of $500,000 cash or $1,000,000 in property bonds. The defense filed for a reduction of bail but denied by the court in September.
Ramsaran will appear in court at a later date.
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