Lead Investigator Testifies in Porco Murder Trial

Fireworks on Wednesday afternoon in the Christopher Porco murder trial, when the judge warned prosecutor David Rossi to stop attacking Porco's character, or he might declare a mistrial. The motion for mistrial came from defense attorney Laurie Shanks, after Rossi asked lead Bethlehem Detective Christopher Bowdish if University of Rochester students told police that Porco was often intoxicated. Jeffrey G. Berry told the prosecution and defense a mistrial could be granted based on, what he called a bad faith question by Rossi.

Earlier in the day Police Detective Christopher Bowdish took the stand testified the barely alive Joan Porco shook her head no when asked if her son Jonathan had attacked her and nodded yes when asked if the attacker was her youngest son, Christopher.

Bowdish was the lead investigator on the scene at the Porco's Delmar home the morning Peter Porco was murdered and his wife Joan Porco was attacked with an ax.

In cross examination Wednesday, Christopher Porco's attorney Laurie Shanks questioned Bowdish with whether he asked Joan if she was awake during the attack. He answered that he did not ask that question. Shanks also said "you decided at that moment Christopher was the subject you wanted to apprehend?"

Bowdish answered yes.

Shanks: He was your only suspect? Bowdish: Yes.

Shanks: You had no physical evidence at that point? Bowdish: Not at that time.

Bowdish is the investigator who placed a global positioning device in Christopher Porco's car to monitor his movements.