Cal Harris Still Waits for His Murder Trial Verdict

Bob Joseph/WNBF News [March 5, 2014][/caption]A judge in Schoharie County continues to consider the fate of former Owego car dealer Calvin Harris, who is accused of killing his wife almost 15 years ago.

Six hours of deliberations has failed to yield a verdict in the fourth murder trial of the Town of Spencer man.

Judge Richard Mott said he would be deliberating in the same way as a jury and would not set a date for delivering a verdict in the non-jury bench trial as is normally the case.

Harris is accused of murder in the presumed death of his estranged wife, Michele, who was last seen the night of September 11, 2001.

The lawyers for the wealthy businessman have said they have no problem with Judge Mott taking his time in considering all the testimony presented over the past seven weeks.

Harris had been convicted twice in trials in Tioga County but those verdicts were overturned.  His third trial was moved to Schoharie County since the defense argued the publicity surrounding the case would keep Harris from getting an impartial jury.  That third trial ended in a hung jury.

In the latest proceedings, Harris opted for a non-jury trial, leaving his fate in the hands of Judge Mott.