NORTHAMPTON — Attorneys in the case of the woman accused of killing her wife in their Granby home in March 2010 will be in court next month to argue whether two crime-scene staging experts may testify during the September trial.
Cara Rintala, 49, has been tried twice in Hampshire Superior Court for the slaying of her wife, Annamarie Cochrane Rintala, 37, who was strangled to death. Both times, the jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict, resulting in mistrials.
The state Supreme Judicial Court ruled in January that Rintala can be tried for a third time.
First Assistant Northwestern District Attorney Stephen Gagne is attempting to have two new experts testify about crime-scene staging.
Prosecutors allege Cara Rintala staged the scene of her wife’s death to make it appear that somebody had broken into the home.
The hearing was originally scheduled for Thursday, but Judge Mary-Lou Rup continued the proceeding to 9 a.m. July 8 in Hampden Superior Court so that Rintala’s attorney David Hoose, of Northampton, would have more time to review Gagne’s filings.
“I don’t think any of these proposed experts should be allowed to testify,” Hoose said in court.
Michael Majchrowicz can be reached at mmajchrowicz@gazettenet.com or 413-585-5234.