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Jury deliberations are set to resume today in Kingston in the murder trial of former state trooper Christopher Baldner. The jury, consisting of nine men and three women, deliberated for five hours on Tuesday (November 18) without reaching a verdict. During their discussions, jurors reviewed key evidence, including body camera footage and audio recordings from the incident.
Baldner, 52, is accused of ramming his police cruiser into an SUV during a high-speed chase on the New York State Thruway in December 2020. The collision resulted in the death of 11-year-old Monica Goods, who was ejected from the vehicle. Baldner faces charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter, and reckless endangerment.
Prosecutors argue that Baldner acted with "depraved indifference to human life" by intentionally ramming the SUV driven by Monica's father, Tristin Goods. The defense, however, claims that Baldner was pursuing a dangerous driver and that Tristin Goods caused the crash by overcorrecting.
During the trial, jurors heard testimony from Tristin Goods, his wife April, and their daughter Tristina, who were also in the vehicle. The jury requested to review the state police manual section on high-speed pursuits and listened to audio of the chaotic moments following the crash, including Tristin Goods' pleas for help.
Outside the Ulster County Courthouse, supporters of the Goods family gathered, calling for justice and advocating for an end to high-speed police chases involving children. Lisa Royer, a Kingston resident, collected signatures for a petition to address this issue statewide.
Jury deliberations are scheduled to continue today at 9:30 a.m. The trial has drawn significant attention, with live updates being provided by local media outlets. As the community awaits the jury's decision, the case highlights ongoing debates over police pursuit policies and accountability.