Charles Tan

ITHACA, N.Y. — A murder charge against former Cornell student Charles Tan has been dismissed in court Thursday morning, reports say.

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According to the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle,  Judge James Piampiano ruled that Assistant District Attorney William Gargan did not prove a case against Tan.

A mistrial was declared in Tan’s first murder trial after jurors spent eight days trying to reach a verdict.

Tan was accused of fatally shooting his father, Liang “Jim” Tan, in February.

Related: Reports: Mistrial declared in former Cornell student’s murder trail

District Attorney Sandra Doorley told the  Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, that the decision is an example of prejudice within the criminal justice system.

“This would have never happened to a city kid,” she said. 

WXXI News is reporting that Gargan opposed the judge’s decision and asked while shouting into a microphone whether the court “suffered amnesia.”

According to a Time Warner Cable reporter, Piampiano threatens to throw Gargan in handcuffs and in jail after the lawyer told the judge to stop talking.

This is a breaking news story. We are updating it as more information becomes available.

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Jolene Almendarez

Jolene Almendarez is Managing Editor at The Ithaca Voice. She can be reached at jalmendarez@ithacavoice.com; you can learn more about her at the links in the top right of this box.