Jury starts fourth full day of deliberations in Capers trial

PHOTOGRAPHER: Steven Cook

The Schenectady County Court jury deliberating the fate of Michael Capers resumed deliberations this morning, starting their fourth full workday on the case.

The jury is trying to decide whether Capers is guilty of killing two men in March 2010 on Hulett Street.

The jury’s day today began with an hour of readbacks requested late Friday afternoon. The testimony read back covered witnesses to the shooting and the aftermath. The jury also asked for information related to weapons charges to be read back.

The jury deliberated about seven hours each Wednesday through Friday last week. That was after about two hours of deliberations Tuesday afternoon and an hour Monday. The jury has deliberated to about 4:30 p.m. each day.

Capers, 18, is standing trial in the killings of 17-year-old Alphonzo Pittman and 21-year-old Virgil Terry on Hulett Street. Prosecutors say Pittman was the target, while Terry, part of Capers’ group, was a victim of friendly fire.

Deliberations are lasting now about as long as the trial itself. Jury selection in the case began Sept. 19. Closing arguments were given last Monday, Sept. 26.

Capers turned down a plea deal that would have gotten him 10 years in prison. If he is convicted in the killings, he faces up to 50 years to life.