A man facing second degree murder charges in the stabbing death of 44-year-old Paul Hamilton will have his case heard in District Court.

66-year-old Timothy R. Harnden appeared in Albany County Circuit Court Friday morning for a preliminary hearing.  He was accompanied by attorneys Vaughn Neubauer and Charles Pelkey of Neubauer, Pelkey and Goldfinger LLP.

The purpose of the hearing was to show if the prosecution had sufficient evidence to bind the case over to District Court.

During the hearing, Joshua Merseal, Albany County prosecutor, questioned Laramie Police Detective Ryan Gerdes.  Gerdes testified that Harnden had confessed to police that he was responsible for the stabbing, but that he had said it was accidental.  Gerdes went on to say that the nature of the wounds seemed inconsistent with an accidental stabbing.  He further stated that the wife of the victim had alleged that Harnden had been romantically interested in her, and that at times she felt Harnden was obsessing over her.

During cross-examination, Gerdes told Defense attorney Neubauer that  Harnden and the victim's wife lived in separate rooms of the same house, and the victim lived in a trailer out back of that home.  When asked why, Gerdes said that Paul Hamilton and his wife were having marital issues, and that domestic violence may have been a contributing factor in those issues.

After Gerdes testimony, Circuit Judge Robert A. Castor decided to bind the case over to District Court.  Neubauer did request a modification of bond for Harnden, who remains in custody, however that request was denied.

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