Defense: Ex-corrections guards in upstate New York are not guilty of murder in inmate's beating
Ten guards were indicted in the death of Robert Brooks, with five pleading guilty to manslaughter and others cooperating with prosecutors, as closing arguments proceed.
- Wednesday, closing arguments began in a Utica court for Mathew Galliher, Nicholas Kieffer and David Kingsley, with proceedings scheduled to continue Wednesday afternoon.
- Robert Brooks was beaten by multiple guards upon arriving at Marcy Correctional Facility on Dec. 9 and sustained fatal injuries including a broken nose, black eye, and organ damage, special prosecutor William Fitzpatrick said.
- A grand jury indicted 10 guards in Brooks's death, five guards pleaded guilty to manslaughter, one to attempted evidence tampering, and three more employees agreed to plead guilty and cooperate.
- Defense lawyers told jurors the three officers were trying to do their jobs in difficult circumstances and should not be judged for others' violent acts, while prosecution cited David Kingsley lifting Brooks by the neck.
- William Fitzpatrick, special prosecutor, is prosecuting guards in the March 1 Messiah Nantwi case at Mid‑State Correctional Facility, which led to ten guards indicted in April.
21 Articles
21 Articles

Defense: Ex-corrections guards in upstate New York are not guilty of murder in inmate's beating
Closing arguments are underway in upstate New York in the murder trial of three former corrections officers accused in the fatal beating of an inmate.
Closing arguments underway in trial of former prison guards charged in Robert Brooks' death
UTICA, N.Y. — Closing arguments are underway on Wednesday in the trial of three former prison guards charged with second-degree murder in the death of Robert Brooks.It took attorneys six days to rest their case in the Onedia County Court trial of David Kingsley, Nicholas Kieffer, and Matthew Galliher. You can watch the closing arguments […]
Jury now has the case: Are guards guilty of murdering inmate Robert Brooks?
Utica, N.Y. — An Oneida County jury is now deciding whether, among other things, three state corrections officers showed a depraved indifference toward an inmate last winter and are guilty of his murder in a Central New York prison.
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