`Victims’ are everywhere at Monahan trial

North Country Public Radio reports on right wing extremism in North Country

Ken Tingley

It seemed unusual to me.

During pretrial discussions before Kevin Monahan’s trial got under way last week, the attorneys agreed not to use the term “victim” during the trial. They also agreed not to use the terms “assailant” or “perpetrator.”

It’s the type of lawyer-speak I just don’t understand.

As I looked around the Washington County courtroom Tuesday morning, I suspected there were lot of victims among the nearly 40 spectators. There were many who were suffering, many who would never forget the events of last April 15 when young Kaylin Gillis and her friends turned up the wrong driveway in rural Hebron and Gillis ended up dead in the middle of the road.

Last Friday, graphic images of Gillis’ body were shown to the jury and first responders testified about the efforts to save her life after being shot through the neck. The frantic 9-1-1 calls made by Gillis’ friends were also played.

With the snow falling outside Tuesday, Sgt. Christoper Murray of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office testified about responding to Cemetery Road on the night of April 15, 2023.

There were first responder vehicles already on the scene.

There were several frantic teenagers.

“There was a deceased party laying in the middle of the road covered by a sheet,” Murray said in court.

It’s that horror that will be repeated over and over again over the next few weeks as a jury decides the fate of Kevin Monahan, the man accused of shooting the 20-gauge shotgun that killed 20-year-old Schuylerville woman.

Nearly 40 were there to bear witness. More to give testimony.

Trying to make sense of not only what happened, but why.

Maybe looking for justice.

Maybe looking for any reason, any small detail to provide a clue about why this happened on that dark driveway on a warm spring night.

Murray said after he left Cemetery Road, he drove to the Monahan residence on Patterson Hill Road. He found several police cars at the bottom of the driveway and nearly a dozen officers. Some had their weapons drawn. Murray was armed with an AR-15.

The officers took cover behind the Monahan garage about halfway up the Monahan driveway because of “safety” concerns. By the time Murray arrived, the lights were on in the house, but Monahan refused to leave the house.

Murray described the scene when John Winchell, the undersheriff in Washington County, arrived and led the officers up the driveway to talk to the defendant.

Murray’s body-cam video footage showed Winchell talking to Monahan on his porch, before asking Murray up to the door and get information from Monahan and his wife.

As Winchell walked away, he said to Monahan “You already got a hold of Mr. Mausert?”

“He should have gotten a hold of you guys,” Monahan replied.

Mr. (Kurt) Mausert is the Monahan’s personal attorney.

During a break and with the jury out of the room, Monahan’s attorney Arthur Frost asked Judge Adam Michelini for a mistrial. Frost cited a previous case where a New York court ruled it prejudicial for jurors to see defendants invoke their right to an attorney.

“There is no unringing this bell,” Frost said. “This is an unfixable problem.”

Michelini ruled it did not apply because Monahan did not actually invoke his right to an attorney and denied the mistrial motion. The judge instructed the jury not to infer any guilt from the mention of Monahan’s attorney.

Sgt. Murray’s body-cam footage went on to show his interaction with Monahan and his wife, Jinx.

Murray asked Kevin Monahan to step out onto the porch.

“I’m fine right here,” Monahan said.

Monahan was asked if anything had happened there that night.

“Nothing I know of,” he said.

Sgt. Murray asked Monahan’s wife, Jinx Monahan, for her information.

He asked her if she had any visitors that night.

She said, “No.”

He asked if she anyone had drove up her driveway that night.

She paused and said “No” again.

It was 11:42 p.m. It had been about two hours since Gillis had been shot.

Another investigator testified that no shotgun shells were found at the scene.

Images of Gillis’ body covered by a tarp were also shown to the jurors as well as as photos from within the car that showed the shot entered through the back. It showed the car was driving away.

This was just the third day of the trial.

Lots of evidence has been presented.

But I suspect there is lots of horror to come.

But the word “victim” will not be used.

Looking around Tuesday, there were victims everywhere.

Iowa caucuses

I’m hoping most of you took my advice and paid little attention to the Iowa caucuses and the race horse coverage that most of the networks provided.

They will be doing it again with the New Hampshire primary next week and then South Carolina after that.

Again, like it or not, we already have the two candidates for president. The race is over and to pretend otherwise is journalism malpractice.

Extremism in North Country

North County Public Radio published an informative report on the growth of right-wing extremism throughout the region from reporters Zach Hirsch and Emily Russell.

It chronicles appearances last year by several right-wing groups throughout the region, including Ballston Spa and Saratoga Springs.

What it didn’t include was the downtown protests by pro-Stefanik protesters in downtown Glens Falls in 2019. It was an especially ugly time in Glens Falls.

Still, the report is worth a look about how the region is changing.

Tonight’s event

Too many of us stay home during January.

The ice, the snow and the cold temperatures make it more preferable to cuddle up next to the wood stove or just hunker down in front of the television.

But it’s good to get out.

I’ll be speaking at the Chapman Museum in downtown Glens Falls tonight at 7 p.m. I’ll be talking about newspapers, journalism and my new book “The Last American Editor, Vol. 2.” There’s lots to talk about, so I hope you can make it.

The Chapman is asking you to register if you plan on attending by calling 518 793-2826.