Investigator who grilled Powell takes stand in murder retrial

by DIANE VALDEN

HUDSON—A senior State Police investigator who spent more than 30 hours talking with Warren Powell took the stand this week in Mr. Powell’s murder retrial and recounted allegedly incriminating and contradictory statements the defendant made to him more than a decade ago.

     Mr. Powell, 38, is charged with second degree murder in the death of his wife on or about October 1, 1994. The body of Mary Ann (Tasick) Powell, 21, who was six months pregnant at the time of her death, was discovered in the Hudson River May 25, 1996 by campers hiking near Gay’s Point in Stockport. She was strangled to death and stuffed in a hockey bag weighed with rocks.

     Mr. Powell was convicted of her murder but a state appeals court later overturned the conviction. He remains in prison on drug charges unrelated to the murder.

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Prosecution calls professor in murder trial

by DIANE VALDEN

HUDSON—A former Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute professor appeared to bolster the prosecution’s case, while a sporting goods salesman and hockey enthusiast did not as testimony in the murder retrial of Warren Powell moved into its fourth day Wednesday, April 8.
     Both men were witnesses for the prosecution in the case against Mr. Powell, 38, who is charged with second degree murder in the death of his pregnant wife, Mary Ann (Tasick) Powell on or about October 1, 1994. Her body was discovered in the Hudson River May 25, 1996 by campers hiking near Gay’s Point in Stockport. Mrs. Powell, 21, was strangled to death and stuffed in a hockey bag weighted with rocks.
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Investigator recounts grim details of victim’s remains as murder retrial continues

by DIANE VALDEN

HUDSON—Testimony focused on the victim’s body, the bag it was stuffed in and the boat allegedly used to dump the body in the Hudson River as the Warren Powell murder retrial resumed Monday afternoon April 6.
     Mr. Powell, 38, a Valatie native who lived in the Saratoga County community of Halfmoon 15 years ago, is charged with second degree murder, a class A-1 felony. The indictment alleges that on or about October 1, 1994 Mr. Powell caused the death of his wife, Mary Ann (Tasick) Powell, 21, who was six-months pregnant with the couple’s first child. Campers hiking near Gay’s Point in Stockport discovered her body in the Hudson River May 25, 1996. She had been strangled to death and stuffed in a hockey bag weighted with rocks.
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Ichabod Crane board set to approve budget with 3.3% tax levy increase

by EMILIA TEASDALE

KINDERHOOK—The Ichabod Crane school board plans to approve a $38,447,102 budget proposal for the 2009-2010 school year. The plan would increase spending by just under 4%. That would set the tax levy at $18,904,116, an increase of 3.25% over the current year.
     The final numbers were presented to the board at a special meeting Tuesday March 31 at the last of six budget meetings the district has hosted over the last three months. The board will vote on the proposed budget at its next regular meeting, this Tuesday, April 7.
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Powell questions deputy during murder retrial

by DIANE VALDEN

HUDSON—Though highly irregular and not typically permitted, defendant Warren Powell was allowed to briefly question a witness, Friday, April 3, during the second day of testimony in his retrial for the strangulation murder of his wife.
     Mr. Powell, 38, who is from Valatie but was living in the Saratoga County community of Halfmoon at the time of the crime, is charged with second degree murder. The indictment alleges that Mr. Powell murdered his wife, Mary Ann (Tasick) Powell, 21, on or about October 1, 1994.
     Mrs. Powell was six-months pregnant with the couple’s first child. Her body, tied up and stuffed a hockey bag weighted down with rocks, was discovered in the Hudson River May 25, 1996 by campers hiking near Gay’s Point in Stockport.
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