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After calling some 28 witnesses over five weeks of testimony in a Riverhead courtroom, the prosecution on Friday morning rested its case against Anthony Oddone, a golf caddy accused of killing off-duty corrections officer Andrew Reister in August 2008.
Judge C. Randall Hinrichs denied a motion immediately afterward by Mr. Oddone’s attorney, Sarita Kedia, to have the charges against her client dismissed. Ms. Kedia maintained that the prosecution had not proven that Mr. Oddone, 26, was guilty of murder in connection with the death of Mr. Reister during a struggle in a Southampton tavern. Mr. Oddone is charged with second-degree murder and accused of intentionally killing Mr. Reister, a Hampton Bays resident who was 40 at the time of his death, during a struggle at the Southampton Publick House, where Mr. Reister was moonlighting as a bouncer. Witnesses said Mr. Oddone held Mr. Reister in a choke hold from behind during the scuffle until long after he had lost consciousness, despite bystanders’ efforts to make him release the hold.
“The people have presented no evidence whatsoever as to Mr. Oddone’s intent to cause Mr. Reister’s death,” she argued to the judge. “I think the people have failed to prove this case beyond a reasonable doubt, both with regard to intent and causation.” Judge Hinrichs denied her motion to dismiss.
Ms. Kedia immediately began calling witnesses for the defense. Her first witness, Dr. Daniel Spitz, took the stand on Friday afternoon. Dr. Spitz is a forensic pathologist from Michigan and the editor of a textbook on forensic pathology.
Before starting her case, Ms. Kedia submitted background information to the court for Dr. Spitz and three other doctors she might call as defense witnesses, including a cardiologist and a psychologist. She said the psychologist will testify about memory and the unreliability of eyewitness accounts.
The prosecution rested after nearly three days of testimony by Southampton cardiologist Dr. Miguel Blanco. During her lengthy cross examination of Dr. Blanco, Ms. Kedia focused on Mr. Reister’s diagnoses three years earlier with sleep apnea and cardiac arrhythmia.
The trial is expected to last until after the Thanksgiving holiday.
Mr. Oddone has been accused of intentionally killing Mr. Reister after the bouncer, whose full-time job was as a Suffolk County Jail corrections officer, ordered him to stop dancing on a table at the Publick House. He has been charged with second-degree murder and faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted. Because Mr. Reister worked at the Suffolk County Jail in Riverhead—at least a dozen of his co-workers have attended each day of testimony in the trial thus far—Mr. Oddone has been held at the New York City jail on Rikers Island for the 15 months since his arrest.
The prosecution’s case against Mr. Oddone focused on the length of time the defendant held Mr. Reister in a choke hold after the victim had fallen unconscious. He died days after the incident, having never regained consciousness.
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I didn't think so before the trail, and I am just as dubious now that the prosecution has rested.
Will the jury be given an instruction for "Depraved Indifferent Homicide?" We shall see, but that looks like a slam dunk right now.
Total comments by Frank Wheeler: 506
But go ahead and be "dubious". I'm sure you haven't been reading the articles thoroughly enough because you've actually been sitting through the trial ever day, in person, right?
Total comments by maryb123: 84
My question: Why are you so "Pro Oddone"? DO YOU THINK THIS IS SOME KIND OF CONTEST ? Do you think its fun to keep track of the daily stats??
A man was murdered here...its not a continuing saga on television. Get a life...and not just you Mr. Wheeler, but all the rest of you on here that get so excited putting in your two cents every time a new article is posted. All of you that know a lot about nothing!
Total comments by AnonymousSgh: 74
Total comments by lowenbrau37: 7
In response to your question, I'm not sure why you would think I was "pro-Oddone." I'm not!
I'd like to see justice done here, and not the type of storm-the-jail, death-by-evisceration "justice" some of ... more the anonymous posters with no control of their emotions have been calling for over the past year or so.
Figure out what happened, charge appropriately, and present a good case. My lay opinion is that "intentional" isn't part of it.
As for the tired directive, "get a life," I submit that no one who makes regular comments on this or any other website, can lay claim to any sort of superior "life," so it's probably not a good idea to speak in such vapid clichés.
I hope this clarifies my prior Comment for you, Maryb123. Regret that you felt it was "extremely evil" (atrocious).
Total comments by Frank Wheeler: 506
Total comments by EastEnd68: 173
Total comments by HB 4 Life: 54
Total comments by lowenbrau37: 7
Total comments by AnonymousSgh: 74
Total comments by lowenbrau37: 7
Total comments by AnonymousSgh: 74
Total comments by lowenbrau37: 7
PS, at the risk of sounding childish, I hit the like button of your post by mistake.
Total comments by maryb123: 84
I'll still be looking out for the 25 second witness, however.
Total comments by maryb123: 84
Sure sounds like it, so if anyone has any special qualifications, please be sure to post them in your next comment.
Lowenbrau37, get off your high horse!
Total comments by Frank Wheeler: 506
Total comments by lowenbrau37: 7
Total comments by pstevens: 84
Total comments by HB 4 Life: 54
Total comments by FOTO: 35
Total comments by HB 4 Life: 54
Total comments by THE EQUALIZER: 62
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