On Monday, September 30, 2024, FOX43 reported that defense attorneys for suspended Dauphin County Judge Sonya McKnight have filed a motion seeking the dismissal of attempted murder and aggravated assault charges against her. The attorneys argue that the prosecution lacks sufficient evidence to prove that McKnight was responsible for the alleged crimes.

McKnight faces charges stemming from an incident on February 10, 2024, in which she is accused of shooting her boyfriend, Michael McCoy, while he was asleep in their Susquehanna Township home. McCoy survived the shooting but suffered serious injuries, including losing sight in one eye after being shot in the face. McKnight was arrested five days later on February 15.

Following the incident, the Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office took over the investigation at the request of Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo, as McKnight was serving as a Magisterial District Judge in Dauphin County at the time.

In the recent court filing, McKnight’s attorneys claimed that the prosecution failed to provide evidence of a crucial element of the crime: that McKnight was the individual who committed the act. They stated, “The Commonwealth is missing proof of the most essential element of the crime; that the accused is the one that committed it.”

According to documents submitted during the investigation, McCoy and McKnight had been in a relationship for approximately a year prior to the shooting. McCoy allegedly expressed his desire to end the relationship and had asked McKnight multiple times to leave his home. However, she reportedly refused to vacate the premises and was often found inside when McCoy returned from work.

On February 5, McCoy returned home to find McKnight in the house. When he inquired about her presence, McKnight reportedly stated that she had taken the spare keys. On February 9, McCoy returned to find her in his living room, and tensions escalated when he refused to disclose his plans for the evening.

In the early hours of February 10, McCoy awoke in severe pain and discovered he could not see. He reported to authorities that he had not heard any noise prior to feeling the pain. McKnight, according to police reports, appeared to assist him in a delayed manner, including hesitating to call 911 when he requested help.

Emergency medical personnel who arrived at the scene found that McCoy had sustained a single gunshot wound to the head, with the bullet entering near his right temple and exiting near the left. McCoy claimed he had no awareness of how the shooting occurred and was reportedly in shock when he denied having shot himself.

During police interviews, McKnight’s responses were described as “deceptive” according to the criminal complaint. However, McKnight’s defense team contends that the prosecution’s case is primarily circumstantial. They highlighted McCoy’s testimony, where he stated only that he did not shoot himself and did not identify who was responsible for the shooting.

The defense has argued that the prosecution has not met its “prima facie” burden of proof, which requires sufficient evidence to establish a case. Although prosecutors have claimed to possess other evidence, including McKnight being the only other person present in the home during the shooting and her positive gunshot residue test, the defense maintains that these factors alone do not conclusively prove McKnight’s guilt.

A hearing date for the dismissal motion filed by McKnight’s defense attorneys has not yet been scheduled, according to court records. Additionally, McKnight has been suspended from her judicial position since November 2023 due to multiple allegations of misconduct.

 

 

Source: FOX43