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Herkimer, N.Y. —
A Rochester-area police officer who told police he accidentally shot his son inside an Old Forge motel room in July now faces murder charges in Herkimer County.
A grand jury recently indicted 59-year-old Michael Leach on second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Leach pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned in Herkimer County Court this morning and was sent to Herkimer County jail on $200,000 bail.
He will return to court April 5.
Leach previously told police he shot his son, Matthew Leach, 37, after mistaking him for an intruder inside their Clarks Beach Motel room shortly before 1 a.m. July 21.
Attorneys involved in the case previously said that legal issues under consideration included whether it was reasonable for Michael Leach to believe his son was an intruder, whether he made any efforts to identify the unknown person before shooting and whether he was justified in opening fire on an unidentified person.
A Rochester-area police officer who told police he accidentally shot his son inside an Old Forge motel room in July now faces murder charges in Herkimer County.
A grand jury recently indicted 59-year-old Michael Leach on second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Leach pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned in Herkimer County Court this morning and was sent to Herkimer County jail on $200,000 bail.
He will return to court April 5.
Leach previously told police he shot his son, Matthew Leach, 37, after mistaking him for an intruder inside their Clarks Beach Motel room shortly before 1 a.m. July 21.
Attorneys involved in the case previously said that legal issues under consideration included whether it was reasonable for Michael Leach to believe his son was an intruder, whether he made any efforts to identify the unknown person before shooting and whether he was justified in opening fire on an unidentified person.
