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Jurors in Kingston will resume deliberations today in the trial of former New York State Trooper Christopher Baldner. Baldner faces charges related to a 2020 crash on the New York State Thruway that resulted in the death of 11-year-old Monica Goods. The jury, composed of nine men and three women, has been deliberating for 11 hours over two days and is deadlocked on one of the eight counts against Baldner.
Baldner is charged with second-degree murder, second-degree manslaughter, and three counts of first-degree reckless endangerment. The charges stem from an incident where Baldner allegedly rammed a vehicle driven by Monica's father, Tristin Goods, during a high-speed chase. Prosecutors claim Baldner acted with "depraved indifference to human life," causing the SUV to crash and flip over a guardrail, resulting in Monica's death.
The jury has reached a verdict on seven counts but remains undecided on the manslaughter charge. Ulster County Judge Bryan Rounds instructed the jury to continue deliberating, emphasizing that if they cannot reach a decision, a new trial may be necessary.
Defense attorneys argue that Baldner was pursuing a dangerous driver and that the crash resulted from Tristin Goods' actions. The jury's request to hear the definition of manslaughter again suggests they are struggling with whether Baldner's actions meet the criteria for this charge.
Deliberations will continue today, and if no verdict is reached, another trial may be required. The trial has drawn significant attention, with calls for justice for Monica Goods and discussions about the implications of high-speed police chases.