Hudson Valley Man Found Guilty of Murdering Father

It took an Ulster County Jury just over two hours to find a Clintondale man guilty of Murder in the second degree. 

Nicholas Pascerella Jr. was charged by indictment with Murder in the second degree for killing his father with a baseball bat on December 27th, 2014 outside the victim's home.

The first trial in this case was ruled a mistrial, after a jury deliberated for four days and were unable to reach a verdict.

During this second trial, the defense argued that Pascerella committed the crime while under the influence of extreme emotional disturbance, thereby committing a lesser crime of manslaughter in the first degree.

However the prosecution countered, offering proof that the crime was premeditated. The proof they provided included recorded jail calls between Pascerella and his wife, during which he discussed the planning of the murder, according to a press release.

Pascerella is set to be sentenced on December 16, 2016, where he will face a sentence of anywhere from 15 years to life to 25 years to life in state prison.