Ramsaran's pre-trial hearings to be closed to the public
NORWICH – Chenango County Court Judge Frank B. Revoir, Jr. decided in a proceeding Monday morning that all the pre-trial hearings for alleged murderer Ganesh R. Ramsaran will be closed to both the public and the media.
“The court is making sure we can draw an impartial jury,” said Revoir. “I have reached the conclusion that Mr. Ramsaran’s right to a fair trial might be compromised if the pre-trial hearings were subject to public viewing.”
Ramsaran is accused of killing his wife, Jennifer Ramsaran, in December of 2012. Her body wasn’t found until February of 2013 along Center Road in Pharsalia. Onondaga County's Chief Medical Examiner performed the autopsy and 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.
Ramsaran was arrested for her murder in May 2013. His retained counsel is from Hackensack, New Jersey.
Revoir commented on the various media coverage the case has received since Jennifer Ramsaran first went missing. “There is a Facebook page for the alleged victim,” said the judge, who also mentioned lawn signs and a group identified as ‘Justice for Jennifer.’
“The purpose of the hearings would be to determine if Mr. Ramsaran’s statements were admissible during the trial,” said Revoir. He added that if the hearings were open to the public, the information that may or may not be admissible at trial would be heard by the public, thereby tainting the jury pool.
“The court is granting the defense’s request for the purposes of the pre-trial hearings,” said Revoir. The transcripts will also be sealed and not accessible.
Chenango County District Attorney Joseph McBride said, “Obviously the reason for this today (Monday) is that the defense is asking for the hearings to be closed. I just want the record to reflect that.”
McBride did request that certain family members of Jennifer Ramsaran be permitted to attend the hearings.
Gilberto Garcia, Ramsaran’s attorney, did not object to that, so long as the spirit of the closed hearing was respected. Revoir then said the specific family members who will be allowed to be present at the hearings but must follow a “gag order” and not discuss happenings outside court, which includes refraining from posting about the hearings to social media websites.
Revoir continued discussing the importance of keeping the evidentiary information out of the public eye for the purposes of a fair trial for the defendant. He said it would defeat the purpose of closing the courtroom if information “went viral” on Facebook and throughout the media.
The pre-trial hearings will take place in July and are not open to the public. Revoir said the trial beginning September 1, 2014 will be open.
“The court is making sure we can draw an impartial jury,” said Revoir. “I have reached the conclusion that Mr. Ramsaran’s right to a fair trial might be compromised if the pre-trial hearings were subject to public viewing.”
Ramsaran is accused of killing his wife, Jennifer Ramsaran, in December of 2012. Her body wasn’t found until February of 2013 along Center Road in Pharsalia. Onondaga County's Chief Medical Examiner performed the autopsy and 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.
Ramsaran was arrested for her murder in May 2013. His retained counsel is from Hackensack, New Jersey.
Revoir commented on the various media coverage the case has received since Jennifer Ramsaran first went missing. “There is a Facebook page for the alleged victim,” said the judge, who also mentioned lawn signs and a group identified as ‘Justice for Jennifer.’
“The purpose of the hearings would be to determine if Mr. Ramsaran’s statements were admissible during the trial,” said Revoir. He added that if the hearings were open to the public, the information that may or may not be admissible at trial would be heard by the public, thereby tainting the jury pool.
“The court is granting the defense’s request for the purposes of the pre-trial hearings,” said Revoir. The transcripts will also be sealed and not accessible.
Chenango County District Attorney Joseph McBride said, “Obviously the reason for this today (Monday) is that the defense is asking for the hearings to be closed. I just want the record to reflect that.”
McBride did request that certain family members of Jennifer Ramsaran be permitted to attend the hearings.
Gilberto Garcia, Ramsaran’s attorney, did not object to that, so long as the spirit of the closed hearing was respected. Revoir then said the specific family members who will be allowed to be present at the hearings but must follow a “gag order” and not discuss happenings outside court, which includes refraining from posting about the hearings to social media websites.
Revoir continued discussing the importance of keeping the evidentiary information out of the public eye for the purposes of a fair trial for the defendant. He said it would defeat the purpose of closing the courtroom if information “went viral” on Facebook and throughout the media.
The pre-trial hearings will take place in July and are not open to the public. Revoir said the trial beginning September 1, 2014 will be open.
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