Christopher Porco has been found guilty of murdering his father, Peter Porco, and attempting to murder his mother, Joan Porco.
Joan Porco was not in the courtroom when the verdict was delivered at approximately 4:55 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 10 in the Orange County town of Goshen. Christopher Porco’s Defense Attorney Terence Kindlon said Joan Porco was resting in the hotel at the time.
Judge Jeffrey Berry completed his charge to the jury at 10:25 a.m. on Thursday, and the jury had its verdict by 4:12 p.m.
The courtroom was subdued when the jury delivered its verdict around 5 p.m. Except for two young women who cried, none of Christopher Porco’s family or friends were in the courtroom at the time. Christopher Porco showed no emotion when the verdict was read or when he was handcuffed, but he slouched when leaving the courtroom. Defense Attorney Laurie Shanks hugged her convicted client.
We’re very, very pleased by this verdict, but it’s just so said, Chief Prosecutor for the Albany County District Attorney’s Office Michael McDermott said. `I don’t know what’s going to happen to Mrs. Porco.`
Although Joan Porco survived the Nov. 15, 2004, attacks, she sustained critical injuries, including the loss of an eye.
Christopher’s brother Johnathan is in the Navy and stationed on a submarine. McDermott did not know how he would get news of the verdict.
McDermott said he felt the keys to the conviction came in the prosecution’s timeline, which showed the family’s alarm having been disabled at 2:14 a.m. on Nov. 15, 2004; the testimony of former neighbor Marshall Gokey that he saw Christopher Porco’s yellow Jeep in the driveway at 36 Brockley Drive in Delmar at 4 a.m. on Nov. 15, 2004; and e-mail correspondence between Peter and Christopher Porco.
Peter Porco’s sister, Patti Szostak, was present when the verdict was read.
`I have very mixed feelings,` she said. `It was a long haul for the family. It’s very tragic.`
Szostak said she trusted the process, which is what her brother Peter, a lawyer, would have wanted.
Kindlon said he will appeal the verdict. At the end of the prosecution’s summation on Wednesday, Aug. 9, Kindlon had asked for a mistrial. Berry told him on Thursday morning that the motion was denied.
Christopher Porco’s sentencing will come in October. He will remain in jail until then.
Jim Cuozzo reported on this story from Goshen.
Keep checking this Web site for ongoing updates to the Porco verdict.
See all the Spotlight News stories on the Porco trial here
