Murder trial to be first in Conn. since virus shutdown

BRIDGEPORT — A Bridgeport woman, accused of having her estranged husband killed, is scheduled to have the first criminal trial in the state since the pandemic shutdown began more than a year ago.

Larise King, 36, is to face a three-judge panel on Tuesday. She is charged with conspiracy to commit murder and criminal liability for the acts of another.

The trial is to be held in a courtroom renovated for safety with plexiglass walls, giving it the appearance of a hockey rink rather than a courtroom.

“This trial is the first step in restoring the normal flow of business to the criminal court,” said State’s Attorney Joseph Corradino. “Not only are we going forward with this trial but we are looking forward to resuming jury trials in the near future.”

All trials were halted in March 2020. More than 150 cases are awaiting trial in Bridgeport. As of Jan. 1, 63,309 criminal and motor vehicle cases were pending statewide.

“The pandemic has prevented both incarcerated and non-incarcerated individuals from having their trials,” said Frank Riccio II, president of the Connecticut Defense Lawyers Association. “Those defendants who await their trials while in jail have been as patient as possible. Prosecutors did identify this issue early on in the pandemic, and did agree to the pretrial release of some defendants relative to the severity of their cases. A defendant’s right to a speedy trial has been tolled since the public health emergency began and it will be interesting to see how those rights will be re-instituted.”

“As more and more COVID restrictions are being lifted or modified and as more and more Connecticut residents are being vaccinated against the virus,” said Chief Court Administrator Patrick Carroll III, “the Judicial Branch is now in a position to cautiously and incrementally move forward with plans to further increase the scope and volume of judicial business being conducted by its judges and employees. The scheduled lifting of additional COVID restrictions as announced by the governor will provide us with even more latitude to expand our operations within our courthouses.”

Dathan “Daedae” Gray, 32, of Newfield Avenue, was found lying in the street at the intersection of Newfield Avenue and Revere Street in the early morning hours of July 27, 2019. He had been shot five times.

Police allege King hired a relative to kill her husband and then waited nearby as Gray was shot to death.

Because of the pandemic the restart of jury trials has been pushed back at least until June and King’s lawyer, Michael Peck, said he and King decided to have trial before a panel of judges instead. He said his client, who has been incarcerated since September 2019, is eager to have the case resolved soon.

“For someone who has never been incarcerated and has no criminal history this has been a difficult time for her,” he said.

“I have always had great confidence in the three-judge panel,” Peck said. “It’s a more efficient trial. It was a long, winding and uncertain road for a jury trial and frankly in terms of evidence and burden of proof I have always had more confidence in a trained mind than an emotional mind and I certainly equate judges with having trained minds. I’m not relying on emotion or anything like that. Anything with a jury takes three times as long and not necessarily with a better outcome.”

The judges assigned to hear the case are Earl Richards, Tracy Lee Dayton and Alex Hernandez.

Although police contend that King and Gray had a contentious relationship, Peck said he is not using the battered-wife defense.

“She didn’t kill him, let’s be clear on that,” he said. “It’s clear this was no great love story, this was no Jay Gatsby and Mia Farrow and Robert Redford. But she didn’t do it, she didn’t conspire with anyone to do it. She didn’t order anyone to do it.”

Senior Assistant State’s Attorney David Applegate, who is prosecuting the case, declined to comment.

Police said on July 26 King and a friend had gotten into an argument with Gray at a restaurant on Newfield Avenue. Witnesses told police that as King left the victim, she allegedly told him, “You are going to take your last breaths tonight.”

A short time later, police said, Gray was standing on the sidewalk at the intersection when two men wearing hooded sweatshirts approached him. The men then began firing at Gray, police said.

Police said surveillance video of the area showed the suspected shooters leaving a white sports utility vehicle and walking to the scene before the murder and then returning to the SUV following the shooting. A woman matching King’s description can be seen in the back seat of the SUV, police said.

When detectives later confronted King, police said she claimed she was at her home at the time of the shooting. However, police said an examination of her cellphone determined it was near the crime scene at that time.

Peck said his client may testify at trial.