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A trial date has been set for former New York State Trooper Christopher Baldner, who is accused of causing the death of 11-year-old Monica Goods during a high-speed chase in 2020. Jury selection is scheduled to begin on October 27 in Ulster County Court. Baldner faces charges of second-degree murder, second-degree manslaughter, and first-degree reckless endangerment.
The case stems from an incident on the New York State Thruway in December 2020. Prosecutors allege that Baldner rammed his police cruiser into the SUV driven by Monica's father, Tristan Goods, causing the vehicle to flip and resulting in Monica's death. According to the Times Union, the New York Court of Appeals recently upheld the reinstatement of the murder charge, stating that the evidence was sufficient to demonstrate Baldner acted with "depraved indifference to human life."
Baldner is also facing charges related to a 2019 incident where he allegedly rammed another vehicle during a chase. Spectrum Local News reports that Ulster County Court Judge Bryan Rounds initially dismissed the murder charge in 2023, citing insufficient evidence, but it was reinstated following an appeal by the New York Attorney General's office.
The trial is expected to be closely watched, with significant attention on the legal arguments surrounding Baldner's alleged actions and the implications for police conduct during high-speed pursuits. If convicted, Baldner faces a potential sentence of 25 years to life in prison.