Former Tioga County Businessman Calvin Harris to Get Third Murder Trial

The New York State Court of Appeals has reversed the murder conviction of Calvin Harris and ordered a third trial.

The court ruled there were errors in the 2009 retrial including during the jury selection process. The court decided that Judge James Hayden improperly failed to question a prospective juror who admitted she had an opinion concerning Harris' guilt or innocence in the alleged murder of his wife in 2001.

Six of the seven judges seated on the Court of Appeals agreed Harris should be granted another trial. The seventh judge voted to dismiss the indictment outright.

The 51 year old Harris was first convicted of murder in 2007.

Harris' estranged wife, Michele disappeared September 11, 2001. Her body has never been found.

Harris is currently serving 25 years to life in the Auburn Correctional Facility on the 2009 murder conviction.