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Three former corrections officers from Marcy Correctional Facility are set to stand trial for the murder of inmate Robert Brooks. The trial follows their decision to reject plea deals offered by prosecutors on Tuesday (May 13). The officers, Nicholas Kieffer, Anthony Farina, and David Kingsley, are accused of participating in an assault that led to Brooks' death last December.
The incident was captured on body camera footage, showing Brooks being punched and kicked multiple times. Brooks died the day after the attack, which occurred on the same day he was transferred from Mohawk Correctional Facility to Marcy Correctional Facility. If convicted, the three men face sentences of 25 years to life in prison.
Judge Robert Bauer offered plea deals to the defendants, which they declined. Kieffer was offered a plea for gang assault with a 12-year sentence, while Farina and Kingsley were offered deals for second-degree murder with a sentence of 18 years to life. The rejection of these deals means they will now face trial for second-degree murder.
Previously, former officer Christopher Walrath pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter in connection to Brooks' death and admitted his role in the assault. Walrath's sentencing is scheduled for August 4, where he faces 15 years in prison. Other former officers involved in the case, including those facing manslaughter and evidence tampering charges, are expected to appear in court later this month.