By Roberto Cruz
Poughkeepsie Journal
PLEASANT VALLEY, NY — Testimony continued today in the escape trial of Justin Curran, who just last week was convicted of the murder of his 67-year-old neighbor Laurie Ferguson.
Prosecutors allege Curran, 37, of Staatsburg, tried to escape from the custody of Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office corrections officers in March, while he was being transported from the county courthouse to the county jail.
For the escape, during which he allegedly struck and bloodied a corrections officer — and injured three people total — he’s charged with two counts of first-degree escape and six counts of second-degree assault, felonies.
Corrections officer Michael Lee testified that on March 22, he witnessed Curran and fellow-corrections officer Donald Pruscowski in a struggle inside an elevator in the back of the courthouse, where inmates are kept prior to court appearances.
Full story: Curran escape trial: Corrections officer testifies ‘there was a lot of blood’