CAYUGA COUNTY -- The trial that will decide the fate of Ryan Brahney, an Auburn man accused of killing his ex-girlfriend Bridget Bell in November of 2011, begins Monday in Cayuga County Court.
According to the Cayuga County District Attorney’s office, Brahney has waived a jury trial. That gives Judge Thomas G. Leone the final say in the case. Brahney’s attorney announced this decision just before jury selection started.
Brahney is accused of stabbing 29-year-old Bell multiple times while their 3-year-old son was asleep in the other room. He was also accused of criminal contempt in the first degree and burglary in the first degree. The child was unharmed.
In November, Brahney's attorney Simon Moody told CNY Central that he entered a plea of not guilty on behalf of his client.
Moody also said that his client will undergo a psychological evaluation. He stopped short of saying they would go for insanity defense but he did indicate that the nature of the crime was very violent.
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