FROM: HOLLEY
CARNRIGHT
DATE: SEPTEMBER 14,
2012
SUBJECT: PRESS
RELEASE – PEOPLE V TERRANCE PETERSON
Terrance Peterson, age
59, of Kingston, New York, was found guilty of Burglary in the second degree,
Aggravated Criminal Contempt, two counts of Criminal Contempt in the first
degree, Assault in the third degree, and the new Domestic Violence
Strangulation Statute by an Ulster County jury of eleven men and one woman on
September 13, 2012. The case originated
out of long term, systematic abuse of the victim by the defendant which
culminated on November 29, 2011. At that time Peterson went to the victim’s
apartment, grabbed her by the throat in the hallway of her apartment, and
forced her into the apartment as he tried to drag her into the bedroom. During her ordeal the defendant placed his
hands around the victim’s neck with such force that she lost consciousness, and
he repeatedly kicked her and punched her.
Peterson had
previously been convicted of charges involving the same victim in Domestic Violence
Court in 2010 at which time an order of protection had been issued on her
behalf. The November 29th incident took place in violation of the
Domestic Violence Court’s order of protection.
The case was
prosecuted by the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office, domestic violence
lead prosecutor Elizabeth A. Culmone. At the trial the People called Dr.
Michael Sikirica who explained to the jury the physiology and symptoms of
strangulation. Dr. Sikirica explained
that when blood flow to the brain is cut off a person becomes completely
helpless. They see blue light and
sparkling in their peripheral vision and then they lose consciousness. At that point they are ninety seconds away
from death unless the pressure to the neck is released.
The defendant was represented
by Edward Bruno. Peterson testified on
his own behalf at the trial admitting to the jury that he punched the victim
five times but denied strangling her. “It was an interesting trial strategy for
the defendant to select an almost all male jury. My own experience has been that men are not
particularly sympathetic to these types of allegations.”
After the victim
regained consciousness she ran out of her apartment into the traffic crying out
for help. Some cars passed by but one
person, John Bills, stopped and came to her aid. He helped her call 911 and drove her to the
hospital. Bills testified at the trial
describing the victim’s emotional and physical condition and her injuries.
“So many times in domestic violence cases we
have victims who are too fearful to cooperate with our office. This victim has not had an easy time of
it. I think she finally came to a point
where she was not going to take it anymore and she had the courage to come into
court and testify against her abuser, not an easy process. I am grateful that the jury saw through the
concocted story which the defendant offered and returned this verdict”.
The defendant is
scheduled to be sentenced by County Court Judge Williams on November 16, 2012.
