FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT
DATE: SEPTEMBER 27, 2018
RE: PRESS RELEASE – PEOPLE V. SETH LYONS
On this date, after deliberating for just under seven hours, an Ulster County Jury found Seth Lyons guilty of Murder in the Second Degree.
Lyons was charged by Indictment with Murder in the Second Degree for beating Anthony Garro, Jr., to death. Garro was found deceased under the Elmendorf St. Bridge during the early morning hours of November 29th, 2017. An intensive investigation by members of the City of Kingston Police Department and the New York State Police led them to Lyons, who was located in the City of Kingston that same morning. Lyons was subsequently arrested and charged with Murder in the Second Degree.
At trial, the defense argued that Lyons was experiencing an Extreme Emotional Disturbance at the time of the murder resulting from a combination of mental illness, chronic drug abuse and sleep deprivation, and thus should not be found guilty of Murder.
The prosecution countered by offering evidence that the defendant had an acute recollection of the murder, and that following the murder, Lyons lied to the police several times; first, stating that he was attacked by five men in midtown and later, offering different narratives minimizing his conduct before eventually admitting he assaulted the victim.
The case was prosecuted by Chief Assistant District Attorney Michael Kavanagh and Senior Assistant District Attorney Lisa Bondarenka. The defendant was represented by Kingston attorney, Bryan Rounds.
Lyons is scheduled to be sentenced in Ulster County Court by the Hon. Donald A. Williams on December 3rd, 2018.