Attorneys trade accusations in Wally Backman harassment trial

Backman is accused of harassment and criminal mischief in an alleged dispute last summer with his live-in girlfriend, Amanda Byrnes.

News 12 Staff

Jan 22, 2020, 7:20 PM

Updated 1,775 days ago

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Attorneys trade accusations in Wally Backman harassment trial
Wednesday was the second day in the harassment trial of Wally Backman, the current Long Island Ducks manager and a World Series champion with the 1986 New York Mets.
Backman is accused of harassment and criminal mischief in an alleged dispute last summer with his live-in girlfriend, Amanda Byrnes.
On Tuesday, a Riverhead police officer testified that Byrnes had a cut on her left hand when he responded to a 911 call at Byrnes' house. The officer testified Byrnes said Backman threw her up against a wall, twisted her hand and prevented her from calling police.
Backman's defense attorney says police records show Byrnes calling 911 on several previous boyfriends, making similar allegations of abuse.
"She's like a serial accuser," says Backman's attorney William Keahon. "Every time a boyfriend realizes how crazy she is - he wants to break up and leave, she won't let him leave, she steals the keys, the phone and calls the police."
Byrnes' attorney John Ray says says his client is not on trial.
"Amanda has an imperfect life as we all do. She's not on trial for her imperfect life," says Ray. He added that it does not excuse any abuse of her.