John Kearney, D.V.M., one of two owners of Bethlehem Veterinary Hospital in Glenmont testified that Christopher Porco is a hardworking, compassionate employee, who has also been trained in the proper sanitary techniques of a working hospital environment, including how to disinfect and clean surgical areas following operations.
Kearney was called by the defense as a character witness in his employee’s trial for murdering his father, Peter Porco, and attempting to murder his mother, Joan Porco. Kearney testified that both Christopher and Joan Porco are now living with Kearney and his co-business and life partner of several years, Elaine LaForte, D.V.M., at their Glenmont home.
`How long has Christopher been living with you and your family?` asked Defense Attorney Terrence Kindlon.
`Since shortly after the murder in December (2004),` said Kearney.
`Where does Joan live at this time?` asked Kindlon.
`She has also been living with us a couple of months now,` Kearney said.
Kearney testified that Porco has been working at his veterinary hospital in Glenmont since 1999 when the defendant was 16, after LaForte received a call from her old friend, the late Judge Joseph Cannizzaro, asking her to hire Christopher.
`He (Porco) seemed at the time to be something different,` said Kearney. `Very hard working, and very responsible, never late.`
Kearney added that Christopher is one of those rare individuals who has enormous empathy for the animals and is always `a step ahead.`
`He’s a very valuable employee who makes my job easier,` said Kearney.
There was a moment in the defendant’s past when he spoke about his plans for the future to his employer.
`He talked about the possibility of going to veterinary medical school or actually thinking about being a lawyer like his dad,` said Kearney.
Under cross-examination by Chief Prosecutor Michael McDermott, Dr. Kearney described the many duties Christopher Porco learned working at the vet hospital.
`He restrains cats and dogs,` said Kearney, ` and helps with the sterilization of surgical equipment.`
Kearney told McDermott that as an accredited vet hospital, every employee has to wear a cap, gown, mask and gloves when assisting in surgery. McDermott then showed the jury a photo of a typical operating room scene with a doctor and assistant wearing the surgical clothes appropriate for sterile procedures.
`It can be bloody, it can be messy work,` said Dr. Kearney. `It’s not all about playing with puppies.`
`What type of cleanup did Christopher Porco do after a bloody, messy, surgery?` asked McDermott.
`Christopher would be responsible to wipe down the surgery table and launder the drapes, gowns, caps, etc.,` said Kearney.
Kearney said there did come a time when he learned about Porco not behaving properly, but did not elaborate. After Kearney’s testimony, McDermott said he was trying to imply the fact that a burglary occurred at the veterinary hospital prior to the attacks on Porco’s parents at Brockley Drive, and equipment stolen from that break-in was traced back to the defendant.
`The Judge (Jeffrey Berry) precluded us from talking about the burglary,` said McDermott.
Another area of Monday’s testimony that was edited by Berry is a conversation Kearney had with the late Bethlehem Police Det. Anthony Arduini. Kindlon said Arduini knew both Kearney and LaForte, and at one point asked them to stop employing Porco because he was not trustworthy. The reason Arduini felt that way, according to Kindlon, is because Porco was dating the detective’s older daughter when the younger daughter took a liking to the defendant.
`Christopher never reciprocated, and the mother and oldest daughter became very upset and angry at Christopher,` said Kindlon to Berry after jurors were removed from the courtroom.
The defense has been trying to make a claim that Arduini and other members of Bethlehem’s police department never pursued other potential leads in the murder of Peter Porco because they had convinced themselves Christopher Porco was the main suspect. When the jury returned, Kindlon was allowed to ask a few questions regarding Arduini’s questioning of LaForte and Kearney shortly after the murder.
`Detective Arduini asked us a series of questions,` said Kearney.
`And did you respond to those questions?` Kindlon asked.
`Yes,` answered Kearney.
Kearney did say both he and LaForte drove to the 36 Brockley Drive to retrieve Barrister, the Porco family Labrador retriever who had been barking in the basement behind a small gate at the bottom of the stairs when police arrived at the murder scene.
`And Barrister, where is he today?` asked Kindlon.
`I am sure he is camped out on the Oriental rug in our house,` said Kearney.
All the immediate members of the Porco family are now living at the home of LaForte and Kearney with the exception of Christopher Porco’s brother Johnathan, who is in the Navy. Joan Porco had been living with her brother John Balzano and his wife at their home in Fairport, outside of Rochester, since coming home from surgery. McDermott indicated that some tension could be occurring between Joan Porco and the Balzanos because of the murder trial.
`John and Barbara Balzano were called to testify as witnesses for the prosecution, and I think there may be some temporary friction between Mrs. Porco and her family in Rochester,` McDermott said.
The defense is expected to wrap up its case by Tuesday, Aug. 8 with closing arguments scheduled for Wednesday and jury deliberations to follow.