Lack of records eliminates mental defense in 2003 Montoursville homicide
Updated 5:53 PM;
Today 5:53 PM
Jade G. Babcock is escorted by two state troopers following his arraignment Oct. 31, 2019, on criminal homicide and related charges in connection with the 2003 death in Montoursville of Brenda Jacobs whose remains are believed those found in a Philadelphia storage unit on Sept. 16.
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WILLIAMSPORT – A man charged with killing his girlfriend in Montoursville in 2003 and cutting off her legs will not pursue a mental infirmity defense.
The reason, Lycoming County chief public defender Nicole J. Spring said Monday, is no records can be found indicating Jade G. Babcock, 51, was insane when Brenda Lee Jacobs was killed more than 17 years ago.
In the past three months, grand juries have indicted as many law enforcement officers in use-of-force cases under Garza s administration as they did within the entire four-year term of his predecessor, Margaret Moore. But even while his office is accruing indictments, experts say there is no guarantee that Garza and his prosecutors will see a courtroom victory. Generally, it is really difficult for prosecutors to get a conviction at trial in a police fatality or police brutality case, said Alissa Marque Heydari, a former prosecutor with the Manhattan district attorney s office. There are many reasons for that. A lot of laws are written such that it is difficult to secure a conviction. Juries can be reluctant to convict a police officer, for various reasons. It is difficult but not impossible to prevail at a trial.