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Jury selection is set to begin today in Kingston for the trial of former New York State Trooper Christopher Baldner. Baldner faces charges including murder and manslaughter for the death of 11-year-old Monica Goods, who was killed in 2020 when Baldner allegedly rammed his police cruiser into her family's vehicle during a high-speed chase on the Thruway.
The incident occurred in December 2020 in Ulster County, when Baldner, then 46, pursued a Dodge Journey driven by Tristan Goods. According to the state Attorney General's office, Baldner acted with "depraved indifference to human life" by striking the SUV twice, causing it to overturn and ejecting Monica Goods from the vehicle. The court documents state that Baldner's cruiser was traveling at 130 mph during the first impact, and over 100 mph during the second.
New York's Court of Appeals recently upheld a decision to reinstate a second-degree murder charge against Baldner. The appellate court noted that Baldner allegedly made false statements about the incident and failed to obtain supervisory approval to ram the vehicle, as required. Prosecutors also allege that Baldner tampered with evidence and prioritized finding his pepper spray canister over rescuing the trapped girl.
If convicted, Baldner faces a sentence of 25 years to life in prison. The trial is expected to draw significant attention, as it highlights issues of police conduct and accountability. As the legal proceedings unfold, the focus will be on whether Baldner's actions constitute a "depraved indifference to human life," a key element in the charges against him.