Patterson is found guilty of aggravated murder in shooting of Sheriff's Deputy
By: Elsa Gillis
Updated: February 9, 2012
Family, friends, and colleagues of Sheriff's Deputy Kurt Wyman applauded as First Assistant District Attorney Mike Coluzza left the courtroom after the jury found Patterson guilty of aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder, criminal possession of a weapon, and harassment.
"We tried to present as comprehensive a case as we could," says Coluzza "The scene was a rather complicated scene...but it gave us a lot of clues and facts that we could weave together that allowed us to demonstrate to the jury that our rendition of what happened was the correct one."
The jury reached the verdict just a few short hours after the defense and prosecution delivered their closing statements. The defense maintained that Patterson never intended to hurt anyone.
"He snapped, he was upset," said Chief Public Defender Frank Nebush, "there was no exit for Patterson in the garage and he was getting tired and getting cold...The officers at the scene had nothing but time."
The prosecution continued to insist that Patterson has a history of abusive behavior, was fully aware of what he could do with his gun. "It's unfortunate that the person they thought they were saving was a man who could care less about their sacrifices," said Coluzza, "He knew that outside that garage were police, and nothing but police."
For the Oneida County Sheriff's department, this was a trying time. They were accused in court of not handling the stand-off properly. Sheriff Robert Maciol insistedon the strength of his department. "The men and women that work for the Sheriff's department are phenomenal, commendable, dedicated."
Maciol says he feels that justice has been served. But of course this verdict does nothing to bring back Deputy Wyman, the father of two young children.
"They had a very strong father who had a passion for life...for their family, and did everything to the fullest," says wife Lauren.
"[He] went into law enforcement, it was a dream, he did it to the best of his ability, I couldn't be prouder," says father Brian Wyman.
