The Latest: Opening statements in cyanide mailing trial | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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The Latest: Opening statements in cyanide mailing trial

PORTLAND, Maine - The Latest on the trial of a U.S. resident charged with mailing cyanide to a suicidal Englishman (all times local):

6:15 p.m.

Opening statements have taken place and the first witnesses have taken the stand in the case of an American man charged with mailing cyanide to a suicidal Englishman.

The trial of Maine resident Sidney Kilmartin is expected to last about two weeks. His trial began on Monday with the opening statements, witnesses and jury selection.

Kilmartin has pleaded guilty to some of the charges against him and is standing trial on others. He pleaded guilty Monday to wire and mail fraud charges.

He pleaded not guilty to charges of mailing injurious articles resulting in death, witness tampering and witness retaliation.

Investigators say Kilmartin advertised and mailed a substance he claimed was cyanide to several suicidal people. The substance actually was Epsom salt.

Investigators say he mailed the real thing to Andrew Denton, who used it to kill himself.

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2:45 p.m.

A U.S. resident accused of mailing cyanide to a suicidal resident of England has pleaded guilty to some of the charges against him and will stand trial on others.

Sidney Kilmartin, of Windham, Maine, changed his not-guilty plea on wire and mail fraud charges to guilty Monday.

His trial was scheduled to begin later Monday on charges of mailing injurious articles resulting in death, witness tampering and witness retaliation. He pleaded not guilty to those counts.

Investigators say Kilmartin advertised and mailed a substance he claimed was cyanide to several suicidal people. The substance was actually Epsom salt.

They say he mailed the real thing to Andrew Denton, who then used the cyanide to kill himself.

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7:32 a.m.

The trial of a U.S. resident accused of mailing cyanide to a suicidal resident of England who killed himself is about to begin.

Sidney Kilmartin of Windham, Maine, faces federal charges of mailing injurious articles resulting in death, wire fraud, mail fraud, witness tampering and witness retaliation. The jury trial begins on Monday.

He has pleaded not guilty.

Investigators say Kilmartin advertised and mailed a substance he claimed was cyanide to several suicidal people. The substance was actually Epsom salt.

Prosecutors say Kilmartin mailed the real thing to 49-year-old Andrew Denton of Hull, England, to keep him from telling investigators about the fraud. Denton then used the cyanide to commit suicide.

Kilmartin has a history of mental illness and was previously committed to a psychiatric facility in 2008.

News from © The Associated Press, 2016
The Associated Press

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