Poughkeepsie Woman's Kayak Murder Trial Begins In March

Jury selection in the trial of the Poughkeepsie woman accused in her fiancé’s drowning death will begin on March 13.

Angelika Graswald, shown with fiancé Vincent Viafore, is scheduled to go on trial next month. The Poughkeepsie couple were kayaking on the Hudson in 2015 when Viafore drowned. Prosecutors have charged the 36-year-old with murder.
Photo Credit: *File photo*

02/15/2017 8:00 a.m.

Angelika Graswald, 36, made an appearance Tuesday at the Orange County Courthouse in Goshen, News12 reported.

Graswald, a native of Latvia, was arrested after 46-year-old Vincent Viafore disappeared in the Hudson River while they were kayaking near Bannerman Island in 2015.

Prosecutors accuse Graswald of sabotaging the Poughkeepsie man’s kayak and then callously watching him drown in the frigid water.

According to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, Graswald is accused of removing a plug from Viafore’s kayak so it would fill up with water and then moving his paddle out of reach while he struggled to stay afloat.

According to media reports, Graswald called Orange County 911 around 7:40 p.m. on Sunday, April 19, to report that choppy waters had caused Viafore’s kayak to capsize and that she was unable to find him in the river.

The defense is arguing that Viafore’s death is nothing but a tragic accident, News12 said.

Graswald, who has pleaded innocent to charges of second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, is being held on $3 million bail.

To read News12.com’s report, click here.

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