Attempted-murder trial resumes

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February 22, 2012

DENISE A. RAYMO Press-Republican The Press Republican Wed Feb 22, 2012, 02:28 AM EST

MALONE — A State Police investigator is expected to continue his testimony today about statements Robert J. McCann allegedly made following his October 2010 arrest for attempted murder.

Senior Investigator Joseph Tatro of the Bureau of Criminal Investigation unit was being questioned Friday when court was adjourned for the holiday weekend.

McCann, who is from Brushton, is accused in an 11-count indictment with the attempted murder, rape and stalking of his ex-girlfriend.

Court was not in session Tuesday because Judge Robert G. Main Jr. was not available. The trial continues this morning.

But in testimony last week, the woman, now 24, described the injuries she said resulted when, McCann, 28, allegedly put her in a choke hold and alternately applied and released pressure against her throat that nearly made her pass out.

She said the confrontation left her with severely bloodshot eyes and marks on her neck — injuries the seven-man, five-woman jury saw in photographs last week.

She said she was later issued a neck brace because she could not hold up her head and consulted a specialist to determine whether severe hoarseness she had from the choking had permanently damaged her vocal chords.

LEG INJURY

In addition to the choke hold the 220-pound man allegedly placed on the 105-pound woman in the car and again later in a woodshed near his apartment, she testified that one of her legs was hurt in what McCann later told her was a move he learned as a mixed martial-arts athlete.

The woman testified that McCann made up a story to tell police about her injuries, saying she had got into a fight with a former friend.

Three people testified last week that he and his alleged victim had told them that story.

She said that fear over what McCann would do to her compelled her to go along with it.

PRESSURED TO MEET

Police say McCann lured his ex-girlfriend to a secluded spot in Westville on Oct. 5, 2010, then took her at gunpoint against her will to Plattsburgh before releasing her the next day.

McCann allegedly convinced the woman to meet him because, he said, he wanted them to break up the right way.

She testified that she had ended things with him in early August and had an abortion because of the verbal, physical and psychological abuse he allegedly subjected her to, saying, "I was intimidated by him. I was scared of him."

She said McCann wrote letters, sent dozens of text messages and constantly called her cellphone until she finally agreed to meet with him at a prearranged place in Westville on Oct. 5.

ALLEGED KIDNAP

McCann allegedly pulled a gun, and when she struggled to get away, put her in a choke hold and alternately applied and released pressure against her throat that nearly made her pass out.

He eventually took her to Plattsburgh, where she called her mother and sister in response to frantic text messages they had sent throughout the day, according to police. The pair stayed in the city overnight, and McCann returned her to Westville in the morning.

Family members took her to the hospital, the State Police were called, and a manhunt began for McCann, who was arrested the next day after being found hiding in a crawl space at a home near Akwesasne.

He was indicted in November 2010 on two counts of attempted murder, three counts of first-degree rape and one count each of kidnapping, first-degree criminal use of a firearm, first-degree assault, first-degree attempted assault, first-degree stalking and aggravated contempt for allegedly ignoring a stay-away order of protection.

Email Denise A. Raymo at: draymo@pressrepublican.com