In a rare � some say unprecedented � move by a prosecutor, Waterbury State’sAttorney John A. Connelly is seeking a change of venue for the trial of aNew Milford police officer up on murder charges.
The maneuver is being hotly contested by Scott Smith’s defense lawyer, JohnJ. Kelly, Connecticut’s former chief state’s attorney, who contends thecase can only be switched out of Litchfield County with his client’s consent. The real question, however, may not be whether the state has the ability torequest unilaterally a venue change based on prejudicial pretrialpublicity, but whether the media onslaught over the case warrants such amove in the first place.