
A judge denied the majority of defense motions in the case involving seven people accused of torturing and murdering Sam Nordquist. The defendants allegedly held Nordquist captive for over a month before his body was found in February.
The Finger Lakes Times reports Judge Kristina Karle declined requests to dismiss charges or impose sanctions on prosecutors, citing the case’s volume and complexity. Defense teams claimed discovery violations and sought to sever trials, but Karle ruled such decisions premature. A change-of-venue request was also rejected.
A tentative trial start is set for Sept. 2, with pretrial hearings scheduled throughout the summer.