ITHACA, N.Y. — Jury selection begins Tuesday in the murder trial of Benjamin Cayea, who is accused of killing 23-year-old Cornell student Shannon Jones in Cayuga Heights on Thanksgiving Day.
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“I’m not making any decision either way. We’ll see what happens,” Cayea said outside the Tompkins County Courthouse last week when asked how he was feeling about the upcoming trial.
Ithaca Voice Reporter Jolene Almendarez is covering the trial. She will be providing live updates of the case on Tuesday here:
Attorney Matt Van Houten is representing Cayea, while Deputy District Attorney Andrew Bonavia is prosecuting the case.
“This case is not a black and white case,” Van Houten said at a court appearance in January. “There is much more to the facts than stated in the indictment.”
Related: Full coverage of Cayuga Heights killing
Assistant District Attorney Andrew Bonavia, however, disagreed with Van Houten at that same court appearance.
Requesting that Cayea to be sent to jail without the option of bail, Bonavia pointed to the seriousness of the charge and said Cayea would face a minimum of 15 years behind bars.
“The defendant admitted essentially to the crime that is being alleged,” Bonavia said.
Round-up of previous coverage
Crowd fills Cayuga Heights courtroom for Benjamin Cayea hearing – Wearing an orange jumpsuit and shackled at the wrists and ankles, Benjamin Cayea entered the village of Cayuga Heights courtroom. Ithaca Voice
Police records: Cayuga Heights man admitted to strangling Cornell student to death – Police described the murder as an incident of domestic violence. Ithaca Voice
Family, friends, teachers mourn death of bright Cornell student from Washington, D.C., area – Shannon Jones was loved by those who knew her. Ithaca Voice
Leader of Tompkins advocacy center on the importance of fighting domestic violence – “There is help and there is support.”Ithaca Voice
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