Three former New York state corrections officers charged in the fatal beating of an inmate that was captured on bodycam video were trying to do their jobs in difficult circumstances and should not be judged for the violent acts of other guards involved in the beating, defense lawyers told a jury Wednesday.
Closing arguments began in a Utica court in the trial of Mathew Galliher, Nicholas Kieffer and David Kingsley, who face charges of murder and first-degree manslaughter in the death of Robert Brooks. The 43-year-old man was beaten by multiple guards upon his arrival at the Marcy Correctional Facility on Dec. 9. Five officers indicted in February have previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter in Brooks’ death under plea deals.
