Appeals Court Denies Change Of Venue In Garza Murder Trial
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An attempt to move the trial of a sex offender charged in the death of a Brooklyn woman has been denied.
Lawyers for Michael Mele failed to get a change of venue from upstate Orange County Tuesday.
They argued publicity surrounding the death of Laura Garza could prejudice potential jurors from Mele's home county, but the appeals court disagreed.
Garza, a Texas native, was last seen leaving a Manhattan nightclub when she disappeared in 2008.
Mele had long been considered a suspect, and was indicted last year after her body was found in rural Pennsylvania.
Defense attorneys can raise the change of venue argument again when jury selection finally get underway.