Husband jailed for ’01 murder gets day in court

Topics: From the Wires,

Husband jailed for '01 murder gets day in courtFILE - In this July 12, 2005 file photo, Calvin Harris is flanked by his attorneys during a hearing at the Tioga County Courthouse in Owego, N.Y. Harris, a prominent auto dealer imprisoned for the murder of his estranged wife, will have his case heard by New York’s top court on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2012. (AP Photo/Rebecca Towns, Pool, File)(Credit: AP)

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — A once-prominent auto dealer from New York’s Southern Tier is urging the state’s top court to overturn his conviction for murdering his missing wife, citing limited circumstantial evidence and trial errors.

Defense attorney William Easton says motive and intent, without a body, are not enough in this case.

Calvin L. Harris, 51, is in prison.

Tioga County District Attorney Gerald Keene argues there was also a threat overheard by the victim’s hairdresser, some small blood spatters and the divorcing couple’s home was located “in the middle of nowhere.”

Michele Harris, then 35, was last leaving work the evening after the 9/11 terror attacks, though a later witness says he saw someone resembling her the next morning arguing outside her home with another man.

A ruling is expected next month.

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