By Doug La Rocque
Capital Region Independent Media
UTICA – An Oneida County Grand Jury has charged six corrections officers with 2nd degree murder in the beating death of Marcy Correctional Facility inmate Robert Brooks, a case that made news across the nation.
Body cameras worm by some officers in the prison’s infirmary on Dec. 9 showed Brooks being kicked and beaten. He died the next day from his injuries at a Utica hospital.
Five of the officers charged with murder are identified as Nicholas Anzalone, David Kingsley, Anthony Farina, Christopher Walrath and Mathew Galliher. The name of the sixth officer charged was redacted from the indictment.
All five were also charged with manslaughter, as were officers Michael Mashaw, Michael Fisher and David Walters. Galliher was also charged with gang assault and Anzalone with filing a false instrument.
Robert Brooks, Jr., the victim’s son, labeled the charges as appropriate but inadequate. In a prepared statement the younger Brooks said “nothing can bring him back to us. Nothing can return to us what these men have taken away.”
In a statement released by her office just prior to the indictment being unsealed, Gov. Kathy Hochul said “the brutal attack on Mr. Brooks was sickening and I immediately moved to terminate the employment of those involved. Now, the perpetrators have been rightfully charged with murder.”
On Thursday afternoon, State Police were reportedly making arrests and bringing those charged in for arraignment.
