The suspected Gilgo Seashore serial killer was again in courtroom for one more pre-trial listening to on Tuesday, throughout which era prosecutors shared some new details about the person accused of killing seven ladies.
Prosecutors with the Suffolk County District Lawyer’s Workplace revealed that Rex Heuermann spent about 4 summers within the Nineteen Eighties working at Jones Seashore, which allowed him to change into very accustomed to the realm the place the stays of six his seven alleged victims have been discovered.
“This defendant is a serial killer who meticulously and methodically hunted down and murdered seven women,” mentioned DA Ray Tierney.
The prosecution argued on Tuesday that Heuermann ought to get one trial for all seven of these alleged victims, after the protection sought to have the case separated into 5 completely different trials.
Choose Tim Mazzei didn’t rule on that query, nor on whether or not the prosecution’s DNA proof can be utilized within the case. A California lab’s DNA testing — which linked hairs discovered on the victims to Heuermann — has by no means earlier than been utilized in a New York felony case.
However the DA sounded assured the proof could be allowed in courtroom.
“This is sound science. It is the future of DNA analysis,” mentioned Tierney. “This science has been around for many years and if the defense wants to call it magic, that’s fine.”
For Heuermann, his legal professional mentioned that the extra he has seemed on the proof, the extra he’s satisfied his consumer just isn’t the killer prosecutors make him out to be.
A listening to to contest the admissibility of the proof was set for March 12, additional delaying the beginning of the trial. Heuermann was arrested in Summer season 2023, and the case has but to go earlier than a jury.
Heuermann’s protection staff mentioned their consumer is “being patient” as he waits behind bars all through the method of pre-trial hearings, “because he knows how important” the hearings are.
“He knows the progress of the case, or lack thereof, and he too doesn’t want it rushed,” mentioned Heuermann’s legal professional, Michael Brown. “He’s holding up OK, looking forward to his day in court and we’ll get there.”
What was decided on Tuesday: the placement of the trial. The protection now believes Heuermann ought to get his day in courtroom in Suffolk County.
“The residents of Suffolk county, who are familiar with what goes on in Suffolk county, we are looking forward to having them sit in that courtroom,” Brown mentioned.
