“In the face of this type of publicity given how recent the Christmas Eve tragedy is in their hearts and minds, even the most conscientious jurors will have great difficulty making a dispassionate and reasoned decision about Mr. Pilato’s guilt or innocence or, importantly, what degree of guilt has been proven.
“However in several months, the healing process will have started and we will be far enough removed from recent events, so as to enable Mr. Pilato to draw from a well-reasoned and unbiased jury, able to decide the facts of the case and not be swayed by emotions or feelings of sympathy.”
Pilato is now scheduled to appear before Judge Dinolfo on Thursday, January 10.
A spokesman for Monroe County District Attorney Sandra Doorley tells 13WHAM News that, “while she (Doorley) certainly wants to see it proceed to trial in a timely manner, the events of the last two weeks in Webster have made an adjournment practical in this case.”
He said she does not intend to oppose the motion made by Pilato’s lawyer.
