NY court upholds millionaire's murder conviction
Posted: 07.29.2011 at 6:07 AM
Photo

ALBANY (AP) -- A New York court has upheld the murder conviction of a millionaire upstate New York businessman for the murder of his estranged wife a decade ago.

The Appellate Division panel, in a divided ruling Thursday, says there was legally sufficient proof for the Tioga County jury to convict Calvin Harris of the Sept. 11, 2001, slaying of his missing 35-year-old wife, Michele.

Harris won a retrial after his first conviction in 2007 when a new witness came forward. He was convicted again in 2009.

Michele Harris' body and the murder weapon have never been found.

The couple was in the midst of a bitter divorce and both had affairs. Authorities say Harris, who owned a string of car dealerships, killed his wife to avoid a large divorce settlement.

(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)