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WILKES-BARRE — Defense attorneys Tuesday requested a mistrial in the homicide trial of Jessica Lynn Alinsky, claiming testimony by one of the prosecution’s expert witnesses conflicted with his previous description of the case at a 2014 police seminar.
The information was received Friday evening via voicemail from a doctor and former Australian police officer named Mark Reynolds, defense attorney Demetrius Fannick said in support of his request. Fannick said Reynolds was familiar with the case and asked Fannick to contact him.
Alinsky, 32, is facing charges she shot Matthew Gailie in the face on Sept. 2, 2011, and then tried to make his death look like a suicide. She faces life behind bars if convicted.
Fannick stated he was told that state police Trooper John Corrigan, who testified last week as an expert witness, had presented the Alinsky case as part of a workshop in Bethlehem that Reynolds also attended, and that the details Corrigan shared with attendees conflicted with his testimony in the case.
Fannick said he spent the weekend attempting to verify Reynolds’ identity and the authenticity of his claims. He said his request for a mistrial was based on alleged conversations between Trooper Corrigan and Reynolds.
Assistant District Attorney Daniel Zola objected to the explanation offered by Fannick on the grounds that it was hearsay.
Judge Tina Polachek Gartley asked if Fannick could produce the witness so he could be cross-examined by the Commonwealth, but Fannick said Reynolds told him he was unavailable Tuesday.
“You need your witness here,” Gartley said. “If you’re going to make a motion of a mistrial, you need a witness.”
Fannick told the judge he would try to reach Reynolds Tuesday in an attempt to arrange his testimony via video.
The case is expected to resume this afternoon.