Syracuse, N.Y. - The Baldwinsville man accused off beating his Canadian girlfriend to death at a hotel on Erie Boulevard will remain in jail at his own lawyers request:
In Onondaga County Court Thursday David Schmidinger's lawyer, Ralph Cognetti, said a physician had been hired to determine whether his client suffered from mental disease or distress. Cognetti requested that Schmidinger remain behind bars while he works with the doctor.
Schmidinger was arrested in December after he called police to tell them he’d murdered 44-year-old Michelle Paterson from Ontario, Canada.
Should Schmidinger’s case go to trial and he’s convicted on his murder charge, he could spend 25 years to life in prison.
He's due back to court Feb. 10.