Utica, N.Y. ― The family of an inmate killed in state prison had a mixed reaction Monday after one officer was convicted and two others were acquitted of his murder by a jury in Utica Monday.
“Today, the jury made the right decision in finding David Kingsley guilty of murder,” the family of Robert Brooks said in a written statement. “While it was hard to see Matthew Galliher and Nicholas Kieffer be given a pass, it highlights the need for systemic change.”
The family said Galliher and Kieffer were doing exactly “what their prison supervisors expected them to do.”
“The guards indicted in this case were not a few bad apples; they were part of a rotten system, doing what state officials have allowed them to do,” said the family, who was not in the courtroom Monday.
The three guards ― Kingsley, Galliher and Kieffer ― were accused of showing depraved indifference toward Brooks’ life when a group of guards beat him on the night of Dec. 9, 2024 at Marcy Correctional Facility.
At the start of the jury’s fourth day of deliberations, they reached a verdict. Kingsley was found guilty of second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter.
The other two officers were acquitted of all charges.
The men were just three of 10 people indicted in the case.
The other six guard have pleaded guilty to various charges.
Some of the officers, including supervisor Sgt. Glenn Trombly, agreed to testify against their codefendants.
A fourth guard, Michael Fisher, is set to go to trial on his own in January. He’s charged with second-degree manslaughter. Six other former guards have all pleaded guilty.
Gov. Kathy Hochul also released a statement Monday expressing her disappointment in the aquittals.
“The vast majority of our correction officers do extraordinary work under difficult circumstances,” Hochul said, “and the actions of these individuals do not reflect the integrity and professionalism of the correction officers who continue to staff our facilities.”
The family said they plan to move forward with their civil lawsuit against the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.
Brooks’ family is advocating for change in the state prison system through along with the End Prison Violence campaign.
The campaign seeks to encourage Hochul to sign an omnibus prison reform package that was passed by the legislature in June. The legislation was a direct response to the death of Brooks and Massiah Nantwi, according to the campaign’s website.
Nantwi was killed inside the Mid-State Correctional Facility just four months after Brooks was killed.
Axon body cameras captured Brooks’ fatal beating from multiple angles. Four guards present had their cameras on but did not activate them to start recording. Unbeknownst to them, 30 minutes of video was passively recorded without audio.
The footage showed guards brutally punching, kicking and restraining Brooks.
Kingsley is set to return to court in December for sentencing. He faces 25 years to life in prison.
Pleas, sentences for other guards charged in the Brooks case:
- Nicholas Anzalone. He pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter. He had been indicted for second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter and first-degree offering a false instrument for filing. He was promised 22 years in state prison.
- Anthony Farina. He pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter. He had been indicted for second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter. He was promised 22 years in state prison.
- Christopher Walrath. He pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter. He had been indicted for second-degree murder and first-degree murder. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
- Michael Mashaw. He pleaded guilty as charged to second-degree manslaughter. He was promised 3 to 9 years in state prison.
- David Walters. He pleaded guilty as charged to second-degree manslaughter. He was promised 2 1/3 to 7 years in state prison.
- Robert Kessler. He pleaded guilty to second-degree assault. He was promised 5 to 7 years in state prison.
- Glenn Trombly. He pleaded guilty to second-degree gang assault. He was promised no more than four years in state prison.
More on Robert Brooks murder trial
- Prison guard guilty of murder in beating death of inmate Robert Brooks; 2 other guards cleared of all charges
- Jury to resume deliberations in trial of three guards accused of killing Robert Brooks
- Deliberations continue for 3rd day in Robert Brooks murder trial as jury asks to review videos and testimony
- See closing arguments in Robert Brooks murder trial; jury has the case (video)
- Jury now has the case: Are guards guilty of murdering inmate Robert Brooks?
