GOSHEN – Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler has requested and a supervising judge has approved the appointment of a special prosecutor in the case of People v. Edward Holley. That case is pending in Wallkill Justice Court.
Holley is charged with murder in the bludgeoning death of Megan McDonald in the Town of Wallkill in March 2003.
Meanwhile, Holley was released from custody under the law as it is not feasible for any prosecutor to present a matter of that size and complexity, and obtain an indictment, within the six days required by state law, legal authorities said.
The basis of the DA’s application for a special prosecutor is that while in private law practice prior to becoming district attorney, Hoovler represented a client in negotiations with the DA’s office regarding potential information that client might provide regarding Megan McDonald’s death.
That client passed away prior to Hoovler taking office.
Although the DA’s office has been consulting with the State Police on issues during the investigation, the office was neither alerted to Holley’s imminent arrest, no given an opportunity to review the 17-page felony complaint in advance of it being filed with the court.
Given the theory of the case as set forth in the felony complaint and the facts concerning Hoovler’s prior legal representation, there would be a substantial appearance of a conflict of interest in the prosecution of this case remained n the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.
Julia Cornachio, an attorney with over 30 years’ experience as a prosecutor and who handled several homicide cases in the Bronx and Westchester DA’s office, has been named special district attorney by Judge James McCarty. She will be assisted by Laura Murphy, Esq., another experienced former prosecutor who has handled many homicide cases and was the chief of the Westchester DA’s Office Cold Case Bureau.
Hoovler had no comment about the new development in the case when contacted Wednesday evening.
