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.
Charges dismissed in #TanTrial today. #WROCTV #ROC pic.twitter.com/uGRqlvUTbz
— News 8 – WROC-TV (@News_8) November 5, 2015
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
#tantrial charge reacts to judge dismissing the charges @DandC pic.twitter.com/XOEuF7iBix
— Max Schulte (@maxrocphoto) November 5, 2015
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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