Deliberations in Tioga County murder trial to continue on Thursday

Tioga County’s District Attorney Kirk Martin delivers his closing argument to the jury on Wednesday, with the alleged murder weapon, the knife, positioned in front of him as he speaks. Sitting on the left, is 1st Assistant District Attorney Eric Gartenman. Sixty-three year old Douglas Every is on trial for the alleged stabbing death of 39-year old Milton Jump on Oct. 23, 2013 at his Thorn Hollow Road residence in the Town of Tioga.

Tioga County’s District Attorney Kirk Martin delivers his closing argument to the jury on Wednesday, with the alleged murder weapon, the knife, positioned in front of him as he speaks. Sitting on the left, is 1st Assistant District Attorney Eric Gartenman. Sixty-three year old Douglas Every is on trial for the alleged stabbing death of 39-year old Milton Jump on Oct. 23, 2013 at his Thorn Hollow Road residence in the Town of Tioga. (Photo by Wendy Post)

On Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014, the defense called Dr. Thomas Lazzaro a forensic psychologist with over 30 years in forensics and close to 40 years as a psychologist working out of both Syracuse, N.Y. and New York City as their final witness in the Second Degree Murder and Evidence Tampering trial for Douglas Every, of Thorn Hollow Road in the Town of Tioga, Tioga County, N.Y.

Sixty-three year old Douglas Every is on trial for the alleged stabbing death of 39-year old Milton Jump on Oct. 23, 2013 at his Thorn Hollow Road residence.

In Wednesday’s testimony, the final witness, Dr. Lazzaro, testified in regards to a psychological evaluation he performed on Douglas Every on July 15, 2014, over eight months following the alleged stabbing on Oct. 23, 2013.

Dr. Lazzaro stated that his conclusion from the examinations were that Douglas Every suffered from two ailments, unspecified anxiety, and signs of early onset dementia – although these statements were immediately challenged by the prosecution as being performed over eight months following the time of the stabbing.

Dr. Lazzaro stated that he has testified on behalf of both the defense and prosecution in various court cases approximately 100 to 150 times, and several in the Tioga County Court, New York itself.

Deliberations in Tioga County trial to continue on Thursday

On Wednesday, Defense Attorneys George Awad and Thomas Cline, on the left, confer as the defendant, Douglas Every, far right, ponders what his fate will be in court. Sixty-three year old Douglas Every is on trial for the alleged stabbing death of 39-year old Milton Jump on Oct. 23, 2013 at his Thorn Hollow Road residence in the Town of Tioga. (Photo by Wendy Post)

It was agreed upon by both the defense and prosecution that Dr. Lazzaro is an expert in the field of psychology, further defined as the study of human behavior.

Attorney Thomas Cline, who is assisting in the defense with Attorney George Awad, examined the witness on behalf of the defendant.

Dr. Lazzaro answered questions relative to compensation, which in the testimony of this case is approximately $250 per hour.

Dr. Lazzaro also testified about the psychological tests performed on the defendant, Douglas Every in July of 2014.

For the tests, Dr. Lazzaro stated he first examined all documents, relating to the present and past regarding the defendant, as well as the deceased in this case, Milton Jump.

Dr. Lazzaro also testified that he watched the several hour interrogation tape of the defendant by police investigators; received statements from associates that were familiar with both the defendant and deceased, and then performed close to a dozen tests on Douglas Every to help determine the underlying or psychological events, if any, that may have coincided with the events on Oct. 23, 2013, in which 39-year old Milton Jump was found deceased with a fatal knife wound to his chest, and on the kitchen floor.

“I chose intelligence tests to see if there were any neurological deficiencies present in Douglas Every,” sated Dr. Lazzaro to the court. Dr. Lazzaro described the defendant as being very anxious and an agitated person.

He also described Douglas Every as a passive, compliant man who has a history of bullying in his childhood; which led to Douglas Every’s relocation at a point in his life where his grandmother basically raised him.

But as for the analysis, Dr. Lazzaro stated that early onset dementia may have changed Douglas Every’s perception during the arguments that ensued prior to the Oct. 23, 2013 stabbing death of Milton Jump.

Tioga County’s District Attorney Kirk Martin challenged Dr. Lazzaro’s evaluation, stating it was taken months after the eventual acts took place on the night of Oct. 23, 2013, and then asked him what he was paid for the evaluation. Dr. Lazzaro stated he was paid $3,000.

Dr. Lazzaro also noted, to the prosecution, that Douglas Every is very strong verbally, but the problem is the left side of the brain and that his perception is lower.

As far as one particular test performed, Dr. Lazzaro stated he had to run the test twice as Douglas Every did not want to reveal his human frailties. He also explained that it is not uncommon for the test to be re-done.

In the first test, Dr. Lazzaro concluded that the defendant wasn’t telling the truth, but the second test was more accurate.

The defense rested at 10:50 a.m. on Wednesday, and closing arguments began shortly after 1 p.m.

Defense Attorney George Awad, in his closing arguments, felt that the jury would deliver a not-guilty verdict on all charges, and asked they not consider Douglas Every’s demeanor following the Oct. 23, 2013 stabbing.

“None of us know what our demeanor would be like,” stated Attorney Awad. He also told the jury that the forensic evidence presented didn’t support the case.

Attorney Awad stated to the jury that the taped interrogation offered the best information they need surrounding the case, and that it speaks for itself.

Attorney Martin, on the other hand, told the jury that the “young” Milton Jump did not have to die, and stated that Douglas Every “brought the knife into the argument”.

District Attorney Martin also added that it didn’t make any sense at all that Milton Jump would impale himself that night, and noted that Milton Jump was un-armed the evening of Oct. 23, 2013.

The defendant is trying to make himself look like the victim, District Attorney Martin concluded. “Milton Jump did not deserve to die that night,” he added.

Once the arguments closed at approximately 3 p.m. on Wednesday, the judge in the case, Tioga County Court Judge Gerald Keene offered instructions to the jury.

The court instructed the jury, telling them they could take everything but the knives and investigation tape with them into deliberations.

Judge Keene told the jury that if they did not believe without a shadow of a doubt that the defendant was guilty of Second Degree Murder, which shows intent to cause death and carries a maximum sentence of 25 years to life, then they could next consider Manslaughter in the First Degree, which demonstrates the intent to cause serious injury, and by doing that, causes death. This sentence carries a penalty of up to 25 years in prison.

If the jury does not find Douglas Every guilty of Manslaughter in the First Degree, by law they can also consider Manslaughter in the Second Degree, which is defined by the court as recklessly causing a death to another person. The sentence, if found guilty of this charge, carries a 3 to 15 year sentence in New York State.

Deliberations are expected to continue Thursday in the Tioga County Courthouse in Owego, N.Y. at 9:30 a.m.