The Calvin Harris trial continued this week in Schoharie County in what is now a third murder trial, after the previous two convictions were thrown out of court. Calvin Harris is on trial and charged with murdering his wife Michele Harris, who disappeared sometime during the evening of Sept. 11, 2001.
Last week began with opening arguments and then the beginning of testimony in what is predicted to be a five to six week proceeding in this case.
The prosecution gave their opening statements the prior week, in which defense lawyers for Calvin Harris picked apart on Tuesday in Schoharie County Court, which is located half way between Oneonta and Albany, N.Y.
As part of their arguments on Tuesday, according to reports, the defense argued that although Calvin Harris and his wife, Michele Harris had problems, it was not different than any other marriage that was in the process of being dissolved, and that Calvin Harris was cooperative in his agreements to support his estranged wife, and their children.
The defense also argued that investigators never pursued other suspects, and that there is no real proof that Calvin Harris was the killer.
In last week’s trial, the former babysitter, Barbara Thayer, was the first to testify.
Calvin Harris, the 53-year-old Tioga County resident and businessman is on trial, for a third time, for murder charges in connection with the disappearance of his wife, Michele Harris, who was last seen sometime during the evening hours of Sept. 11, 2001, and whose body has never been found.
The trial was moved to Schoharie County after the second verdict was overturned in 2009 by the New York State Court of Appeals, and a new trial ordered.
Calvin Harris’ Attorney, Bruce Barket of Marion, Epstein & Kearon, LLC, requested a mistrial early on, but was denied by Judge George R. Bartlett III.
The prosecutor in this case, is newly appointed Tioga County District Attorney Kirk Martin of Tioga County, N.Y.
The Change of Venue was granted to offer Calvin Harris an unbiased and fair trial, Barket stated earlier.
