Kot Waives Extradition Hearing

Blazej Kot, the Cornell graduate student who stands accused of murdering his wife, has waived extradition proceedings and will return to New York to face charges. His lawyer had initially stated that he would fight extradition (Kot was taken to a Pennsylvania hospital after trying to kill himself), but reversed himself today.

If the case goes to trial, I wouldn't be surprised if Kot's lawyers attempted to change the location of the trial. It's tough to find people in Ithaca who are unaffiliated with Cornell, and the fact that the murder was apparently committed in the gorges adds a local, emotional element. However, assuming that Gwen Wilkinson is able to pull together enough evidence, I would expect Kot to accept a plea bargain -- particularly if the crime was committed out of strong emotion.

Edit: The Ithaca Journal has some more details about the case:

State police investigators allege that sometime on the evening of June 2, Kot killed Coffey by lacerating her throat with a sharp-edged weapon at an isolated location on the trail. At around 9:50 p.m. that evening, New York State Park Police discovered Kot in his car at Taughannock Falls State Park with what appeared to be blood on him, state police said.

Acting on a lead developed at the scene, officers went to the couple's apartment and found it on fire, state police said. Firefighters who doused the blaze determined it had been deliberately set, and Coffey's body was found the next day, they added.