Closing arguments in the Brighton ax murder trial will start at around 2 p.m.
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ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Closing arguments are expected to begin on Thursday at 2 p.m. in the trial of James Krauseneck, who is accused of killing his wife 40 years ago with an ax in Brighton.
On Thursday, one more witness is scheduled to testify for the defense. The prosecution rested its case last week. Once the trial starts, you can follow News10NBC’s Chief Investigative Reporter Berkeley Brean on Twitter for live updates.
The trial began on September 6, then was put on halt for Monday and Tuesday due to scheduling issues before resuming on Wednesday.
See our complete coverage of the Brighton Ax murder trial
- Day 1: 40 years ago Krauseneck looked “horrified”
- Day 3: James Krauseneck left town 24 hours after his wife was murdered in her bed
- Day 4: Sister of the victim initially didn’t think James Krauseneck did it. That’s changed
- Day 4: Cop who discovered the crime scene says “it’s haunted me for a long time”
- Day 6: The anonymous letter and the star witness
- Day 7: Famed Medical Examiner Dr. Michael Baden testifies for prosecution
- Day 8: Prosecution rests in Brighton Ax Murder Trial
- Day 9: Defense opens its case in Brighton Ax Murder Trial
Cathleen Krauseneck, a young mother, was killed as she slept with one swing of an ax on Febuary 19, 1982. James Krauseneck has maintained his innocence, saying he was at work at the time. The prosecution said that James was at home during the murder.
On Wednesday, famed New York City Chief Medical Officer Dr. Michael Baden testified for the prosecution. He said the evidence suggests that Cathleen was dead before her husband left for work. That conclusion is different from the doctor who wrote the autopsy report, Evelyn Lewis, who has since died.
Day two of testimony is on Wednesday in the Brighton ax murder case. You can follow Chief Investigative Reporter Berkeley Brean for live updates.
Dr. Katherine Maloney, the deputy chief medical examiner at Erie County, testified for the defense on Friday. She believes that evidence points Cathleen’s time of death to around 6:30 a.m., when her husband was at work.
In the trial, there was also testimony that James left town within 24 hours of his wife’s death. On day one of testimony, jurors heard the 911 that led police to the murder on Del Rio Drive.
Cathleen’s sister said she initially did not think James had anything to do with the murder. She said she changed her mind changed when James cut off communication with her family.
The Monroe County District Attorney’s Office re-activated the murder case in 2016. James Krauseneck was arrested in 2019. The district attorney said James killed his wife and then set up the house to look like she was killed during a burglary.