
Jury Issues Guilty Verdict for Pica-Torres
Television reports from WBNG-TV and Fox 40 News say the jury has handed down a guilty verdict on all charges including murder, arson and attempted murder against defendant Wilfred Pica-Torres.
The verdict comes in connection with an incident in February of this year in which 61 year-old Victor Banayan was killed and 27-year-old Heather Stroup was badly beaten.
According to police accounts, the murder and beating occurred at 109 Walnut Street in Binghamton. Police say Pica-Torres set fire to the apartment after he killed Banayan and beat Stroup.
Stroup was able to get out of the burning structure and Pica-Torres was arrested in a nearby dwelling after reportedly setting that structure on fire as well. Sentencing is scheduled for Friday, November 15.