STORM WATCH

Morning snow followed by deep cold in Westchester

Civil rights verdict overturned in WC inmate death case

A federal judge Wednesday overturned the verdict in a civil rights case against a former Westchester County Jail corrections officer. Ex-Corrections Officer Paul Cote was convicted of attacking inmate

News 12 Staff

Apr 4, 2007, 5:32 PM

Updated 6,470 days ago

Share:

A federal judge Wednesday overturned the verdict in a civil rights case against a former Westchester County Jail corrections officer.
Ex-Corrections Officer Paul Cote was convicted of attacking inmate Zoran Teodorvic at the Westchester County Jail. Teodorvic died a year later from his injuries. Following the criminal trial, Cote was found guilty of violating Teodorvic's civil rights.
However, a federal judge disagreed with the civil rights verdict, saying much of the testimony at the trial conflicted with photographs entered into evidence. The judge also said he found the verdict deeply troubling and was not satisfied with the jury's decision.
Cote was also convicted separately for the inmate's death and served three months in state prison. He would have faced up to 10 years in prison on the civil rights conviction.
Related InformationConvicted ex-Westchester County corrections officer faces civil rights charges