Ex-NY trooper found guilty of manslaughter for chase that led to 11-year-olds death
A former New York state trooper accused of ramming his vehicle into an SUV during a high-speed chase leading to the death of an 11-year-old girl was convicted of manslaughter Friday at his second trial.Prosecutors say Christopher Baldner, 47, rammed the SUV twice on the New York State Thruway, causing it to lose control and flip over.Eleven-year-old Monica Goods, who was in the SUV, was killed in the December 2020 crash.
Baldner’s attorneys said the accident occurred after the SUV cut the trooper off as he pulled alongside during the pursuit.“While nothing can bring Monica back, this verdict is some semblance of justice for her loved ones,” state Attorney General Letitia James said in a prepared statement.The retired trooper, who remained free on bail, faces a maximum of five to 15 years in prison when he is sentenced June 2.A jury acquitted Baldner of murder and reckless endangerment charges in November, but they deadlocked on a second-degree manslaughter charge.Judge Bryan Rounds declared a mistrial and a second trial on the lone remaining charge began last month.Assistant State Attorney General Jennifer Gashi told jurors during Baldner’s latest trial that he chose to “recklessly use his patrol car as a weapon” during the chase north of New York City.
Defense attorney Anthony Ricco argued it was the driver of the SUV — Monica’s father, Tristin Goods — who acted recklessly and caused her death, according to the Daily Freeman.Baldner pulled Tristin Goods over for speeding on the highway near Kingston the night of Dec.22, 2020.
Goods, his wife and two daughters were heading north from New York City to visit family.Baldner and Goods argued, and the trooper pepper-sprayed the inside the vehicle.Goods drove off and Baldner pursued.Defense attorneys said Goods collided with Baldner’s trooper car twice during the pursuit.
An accident reconstruction expert for the defense testified that Goods lost control of the SUV when he overcorrected after “a ...