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Duane murder trial set for March 4

John Castner (Photo provided — New York State Police)

John Castner’s murder trial is now scheduled to begin March 4, Franklin County District Attorney Craig Carriero said.

Castner, 62, was accused in April of shooting and killing David Carpin, 61, and concealing the body.

He has since been indicted by a Franklin County grand jury on six felony charges: second-degree murder, three counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, tampering with evidence and concealing a human corpse.

Franklin County Public Defender Thomas Soucia entered a not-guilty plea for Castner during his September arraignment in Franklin County Court.

Body buried

Carpin’s body was discovered by State Police in April on a property Castner owns on Old Meacham Road in the town of Duane.

State Police said Castner initially admitted killing Carpin, who died of a gunshot wound to the chest, according to autopsy reports.

Castner allegedly shot and killed the man Nov. 28, 2017, with a .45-caliber Smith and Wesson firearm bearing the stamp “U.S. property,” shortly after Castner’s daughter, Melissa L. Castner, attacked the victim with a knife, State Police said then.

She was charged with second-degree assault and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, both felonies, in connection with the homicide.

Multiple arrests

Ms. Castner, 37, of Duane has since been charged with multiple felonies, the most recent alleging that she smashed several windows at a seasonal residence on Old Meacham Road in Duane. She was charged in that case with second-degree criminal mischief.

Ms. Castner was also arrested April 27 and jailed at St. Lawrence County Correctional Facility in Canton after she allegedly struck the driver of the car she was riding in and stabbed him with a pen for no apparent reason, police said. She was charged in that case with assault, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and second-degree criminal mischief, all felonies.

Mr. Castner has been jailed since his arrest, initially without bail. He’s currently being held on $500,000 bail or $1 million bond.

He’s due to appear at a pre-trial conference Jan. 30.

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