Calvin Harris to Stand Trial for Murder for a 4th Time

Bob Joseph/WNBF News [March 5, 2014][/caption]Former Tioga County car dealer Cal Harris will be back in court next spring for a fourth trial for the presumed murder of his estranged wife, Michele, in 2001.

Harris had been convicted twice of murder with the decisions overturned on appeal and a third trial this past spring ended with the jury in Schoharie County unable to reach a verdict.

A fourth trial is now scheduled for March 2 in Schoharie.

Prosecutors claimed Harris killed Michele September 11, 2001 when she returned to the Town of Spencer home the two still shared with their four children.

Her body has never been found and no murder weapon has been recovered.

Harris’ lawyers have maintained through all the proceedings that the evidence being presented by the prosecution is purely circumstantial and there is no firm proof that Michele is even dead.

Last spring the proceedings were moved from Tioga to Schoharie County after the defense successfully argued that a non-biased jury could not be seated in Harris’ home county.

Defense lawyers have already filed a motion seeking a dismissal of the latest indictment and say another trail amounts to Double Jeopardy.