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As Buffalo prepares to bury a fallen officer six years after she was shot, prosecutors have to decide whether Patty Parete's assailant should now face murder charges in her death.
Several lawyers say it wouldn't be a stretch to charge Varner Harris, the then-19 year old who admitted he tried to kill Parete and Officer Carl Andolina 2006, with first degree murder.
There are, however, several circumstances which will likely mean plenty of discussion of the topic before any charges are made.
Parete, 48, died Saturday. Parete had health struggles recently, but the cause of death was not immediately known. She and Officer Carl Andolina were shot in December 2006 after responding to a fight at a convenience store. Parete was shot twice and remained paralyzed since. .
With Harris already locked up... the question will be raised if its worth putting the remaining victims through the rigors of trial... particularly when Parete herself agreed to the plea deal to avoid a trial the first time.
It could also be argued that the trial could constitute double jeopardy and is something that almost any defense lawyer is likely to argue.