NORTHAMPTON — A bail hearing for Cara Rintala, whose first-degree murder conviction in the killing of her wife was overturned by the Supreme Judicial Court in September, takes place in Hampshire Superior Court Tuesday.
Judge Richard Carey will preside at the 10 a.m. hearing that will decide on Rintala’s request for release prior to the fourth trial in the strangulation and beating death of her wife, Annamarie Cochrane Rintala, at their Granby home March 29, 2010.
Cara Rintala was indicted on Oct. 19, 2011, in connection with the March 29, 2010 death of Annamarie Cochrane Rintala, who was 37. The first two trials resulted in mistrials after juries were unable to reach verdicts. A third Hampshire Superior Court jury delivered a guilty verdict on Oct. 7, 2016.
In its decision, the SJC concluded that Cara Rintala’s conviction rested heavily on the testimony of an expert witness who “lacked the necessary expertise” to analyze the paint evidence at the crime scene. The SJC ruled that the trial judge had erred by allowing the expert testimony regarding paint drying.
Annamarie Cochrane Rintala was covered in paint when investigators found her in the basement of the Granby home.
The Department of Corrections will transport Rintala, 55, to court from the women’s state prison in Framingham, where she has spent the past five years.
Boston defense attorney Chauncey Wood will represent Rintala. First Assistant District Attorney Steven E. Gagne, and Deputy District Attorney Jennifer H. Suhl, will represent the state.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
