Photo: simpson33 / iStock / Getty Images
Testimony is set to resume today in the murder trial of former New York State Trooper Christopher Baldner in Kingston. Baldner faces charges related to the death of 11-year-old Monica Goods, who was killed during a police pursuit in December 2020. On Friday (October 31), jurors heard from a forensic pathologist who testified that Goods' injuries from the crash were not survivable. Dr. Jeffrey Hubbard stated that the girl died from "massive blunt trauma due to a vehicular crash" and that her injuries were instantly fatal, as reported by the Daily Freeman.
Baldner is accused of ramming the SUV driven by Monica's father, Tristin Goods, during a high-speed chase on the New York State Thruway. This caused the vehicle to crash and roll over, resulting in Monica being ejected and killed. The prosecution claims Baldner acted with depraved indifference to human life, while the defense argues that Tristin Goods was driving erratically and resisted arrest, according to Spectrum News.
Baldner is charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter, and multiple counts of reckless endangerment. If convicted, he faces 25 years to life in prison. The trial will continue with more expert testimonies and evidence, including details from a previous 2019 incident involving Baldner, as noted by the Daily Gazette.