POUGHKEEPSIE – Accused murderer Paul Senecal took the stand Wednesday in his own defense against charges that he brutally murdered 29-year-old Melanie Chianese in May of 2022. Chianese was the daughter of Senecal’s ex-girlfriend, Cheryl Chianese. Jurors heard the 38-year-old Senecal testify that “The devil told me to do it,” when asked why he killed Melanie. He also indicated that he was hearing the voices of demons, one named David, that encouraged him to kill the victim.
The original account of the murder can be found here.
During direct examination from his attorney, Dutchess County Public Defender Bureau Chief August Dumser, Senecal testified that he grew up with his mother in a studio apartment on Smith Street in Poughkeepsie, where his mother was a prostitute. He indicated that he was forced to watch his mother have sex with her clients when she brought them home.
Senecal also said he worked for the Poughkeepsie Library System for 13 years before leaving the job because of mental health problems. The jurors heard him say that he had been under psychiatric care at one point and was provided medication for “anxiety, depression, and dealing with the voices.” Later in his testimony, he admitted never mentioning the “voices” to the professionals for fear of being locked up in an institution.
Senecal had undergone two mental competency evaluations prior to the start of the murder trial. The three doctors did not have a consensus after the first hearing. When the three professionals were provided with additional evidence obtained during Senecal’s confinement at the Dutchess County Jail, all three determined at a second hearing that he was competent to stand trial. Dutchess County Court Judge Edward McLoughlin agreed and the current trial was scheduled.
Under cross-examination from the prosecutor, Senecal admitted to stalking his ex-girlfriend relentlessly, despite having been arrested and served with a restraining order prohibiting him from having contact with or being in the vicinity of Cheryl or the victim. “I couldn’t help myself,” Senecal said.
Detailed questioning about his actions on May 29, 2022, resulted in the defendant repeatedly saying “I don’t remember.” In summary, Assistant District Attorney Lindsey Richards pointed out that Senecal remembered most of his actions and locations on the day of the murder, except for when he arrived at the Chianese residence in Wappinger, where the murder occurred. Richards, while questioning Senecal summarized his answers, noting that it appeared that he stopped remembering anything from the time he walked up the interior stairs and did not begin remembering actions that occurred until he was on the Dutchess County Rail Trail later that afternoon.
Senecal claims that his memory lapse was the result of being possessed by the devil and another demon named David, who were both telling him to kill Melanie.
The trial is slated to continue on Thursday morning.
