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A trial date has been set for eight corrections officers from Marcy Correctional Facility in Utica who are accused of involvement in the death of inmate Robert Brooks. Jury selection will begin on October 6, and the trial is expected to last up to four weeks. The officers face various charges related to Brooks' death, which occurred last December.
The incident was captured on body cameras, showing corrections officers hitting Brooks while he was restrained. He died the following day in a Utica hospital. Two other officers involved in the case have already accepted plea deals. According to Syracuse.com, Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick is serving as a special prosecutor in the case.
One of the officers, David Kingsley, was back in court for a suppression hearing, where investigators testified about collecting evidence from his residence. Kingsley, along with the other defendants, is expected to be tried together. Spectrum Local News reports that Kingsley's attorney has requested his separation from co-defendants, citing attempts to shift blame.
The trial is set to begin in October, with a final pre-trial hearing scheduled for September 22. WWNY states that the case has sparked widespread outrage, with footage released by the New York attorney general's office contributing to public concern.