Jury reaches verdict in Spota trial

The jury began deliberations Monday in the trial of former Suffolk District Attorney Thomas Spota.

News 12 Staff

Dec 16, 2019, 5:51 PM

Updated 1,617 days ago

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UPDATE 12/17/19: The jury has reached a verdict.  Stay with News 12 Long Island for further updates.
The jury began deliberations Monday in the trial of former Suffolk District Attorney Thomas Spota.
Jurors received the case just after 11:30 a.m.
Prosecutors say Spota and his former investigator Christopher McPartland covered up the assault of a suspect by former Suffolk Police Chief James Burke.
Jurors have five weeks of evidence to consider. There are phone records, cell tower data, witness statements about secret emergency meetings on soccer fields and parking lots and even videos that showed the close friendship between Spota, McPartland and Burke.
The jury has requested the transcripts of days 2 and 3 of testimony from the government's star witness, Lt James Hickey. He is the only witness to testify to having direct meetings and conversations with Spota and McPartland about Burke's beating of suspect Christopher Loeb in 2012.
In addition, the jury asked for testimony from ADA Spiros Moustakas and for video of a news conference with Spota talking about leaks to Newsday.
Burke previously pleaded guilty to charges in connection with the case.
However, Spota and McPartland deny the allegations.


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