Adam Zachs stands in court to face a 60 year sentence for the murder of Peter Carone, Thursday, June 30, 2011 in Hartford. (Michael McAndrew/Pool/AP Photo)
In Tolland Superior Court today, the state said it was unable to find the weapon used in a 1987 West Hartford murder. Adam Zachs’ Defense attorney Aaron Romano says the gun could be part of his client’s appeal.
“During the original trial, the counsel put on the defense that the handgun was defective, and an accidental discharge had occurred,” Romano said.
According to statements in court, the murder weapon was signed out by a prosecutor, and never returned.
After his conviction and sentencing in 1989, Zachs ran away, and hid in Mexico for about two decades.
Because he fled, he gave up his right to file SOME appeals, but his lawyer says he can still argue that his original defense lawyer was ineffective. The current defense attorney says the defense lawyer at the original trial failed to have the gun examined, and that might show that the original lawyer provided ineffective representation.
Zachs was found guilty of shooting Peter Carone to death at the Prospect Cafe. He was sentenced to 60-years in court.
Zachs was captured in 2011. His father was later convicted of helping his son run from the law.
