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The following year, in January 1992, a second trial opened in the
same White Plains courthouse. The prosecution had repaired the damage
from the first trial and tightened up the loose ends. McCarty had
presented evidence to a grand jury concerning the phone bill that the
defense offered into evidence during the first trial. On December 4,
1991, Carolyn was indicted for forgery and tampering with physical
evidence.
For the second trial, all the principal players were the same: Paul
Solomon, Vincent Parco, Liisa Kattai, Det. Richard Constantino, Judge
John Carey and A.D.A. James A. McCarty. There was only one
significant change. David Lewis apparently had enough of Carolyn
Warmus. He left the defense team and a new lawyer was hired: William
Aronwald, a former federal prosecutor and well known in White Plains
courts. Meanwhile, David Lewis filed a civil law suit against Tom
Warmus for non-payment of his legal fees for defending his daughter.
Interest in the case had not diminished. The second trial received
the same fervent media attention. It was also announced that two
made-for-TV-movies were in the making and awaiting the outcome of the
trial so that a proper ending could be added. Much was made of Paul
Solomon selling his rights to the story while legal proceedings
against his wife’s alleged killer were still ongoing. And he still
lived in the same apartment where the murder occurred three years
before. Every day of his life, he walked over the spot where Betty
Jeanne died, a fact that did not escape the attention of many people
associated with the case.
When testimony began, Carolyn sat at the defense table bringing a
pillow to each day’s proceedings so she could put her head down on
the table and rest during tedious hours. At times, reporters noticed
that she appeared distant and maintained a far-away stare. There were
no more designer clothes and confident airs. Instead, there was an
ominous feeling that things were not going quite so well for Carolyn
Warmus. After the familiar faces testified, Solomon, Kattai,
Constantino, Parco, Peters and others, the case went to the jury on
May 21, 1992.
After six days of deliberations and numerous requests for witness
transcripts, reviews of evidence and legal clarifications, the jury
reached a verdict. Judge Carey called the proceedings to order once
again and the room became dead quiet.
“Will you please bring in the jury?” he said. The jury paraded
in and took their seats.
“Have you reached a verdict?” Judge Carey asked.
“We have your honor,” said the forewoman. And after a
moment’s pause, during which Carolyn’s life must have surely
flashed before her eyes, the verdict was announced.
“Guilty!”
Carolyn remained standing and looked straight ahead. She made no
outward sign that she even heard the verdict. Newsday said
“Some in the crowded courtroom gasped with the reading of the
verdict, but Warmus betrayed no emotion.” She was immediately
handcuffed at the defense table.
“You are remanded into custody pending your sentencing,” Judge
Carey said. Warmus was led out of the courtroom and taken to the
county jail. A few minutes later, Paul Solomon told the press: “What
has been lost in this trial is that someone took Betty Jeanne’s
life. The right person was punished, but that doesn’t bring Betty
Jeanne back.” McCarty said he was satisfied with the verdict and
glad it was over. Det. Constantino, who worked the case from day one
was also content.
“To tell you the truth,” Constantino said recently, “I was
elated that it was over. Relieved. This case made my life miserable
for three years. Steady nights. Overtime every week. It really wore
down on me.”
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