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After SJC ruling overturning Rintala verdict, DA’s office says “We remain ready for trial”

State highest court cites problem with expert testimony, but says Commonwealth offered evidence sufficient to support guilty verdict
Posted on: September 27, 2021 - 3:38pm
DA's office intends to take Cara Rintala to trial again after SJC ruling

NORTHAMPTON – The state’s highest court today overturned the 2016 murder conviction against Cara Rintala in connection with the 2010 killing of her wife, Annamarie Cochrane Rintala, ordering a new trial based the erroneous admission of expert testimony regarding paint drying.

The SJC ruled that trial testimony from a paint expert about when and how paint came to be spread all over Annamarie Cochrane Rintala’s body, should not have been allowed because his experiments were not based in accepted scientific process. “We are not aware of any case in which expert testimony relating to the drying time of paint in this manner was admitted. This further erodes the reliability of his testimony,” the SJC opined in its 47-page decision.

In addressing other elements of Cara Rintala’s appeal, however, the SJC affirmed that the prosecution was within its right to provide testimony and evidence of the couple’s turbulent and violent relationship, as well as noting that the Commonwealth had presented enough evidence to support a conviction.

“We are profoundly disappointed by the Supreme Judicial Court’s decision to overturn Cara Rintala’s conviction for murdering her wife.  However, in doing so, the Court once again affirmed that the Commonwealth’s evidence was sufficient to permit a jury to conclude—beyond a reasonable doubt—that the defendant strangled her wife to death,” said Northwestern First Assistant District Attorney Steven Gagne, who tried the case together with Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Suhl. “Even after juries at the first two trials were unable to reach a unanimous verdict, we never wavered in our commitment to pursuing justice for Annamarie Cochrane and her family. Nor do we now. We remain ready for trial.” 

“The SJC affirmed that this is a solid evidentiary case,” said Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan. “This case has been difficult, but we are resolute in seeking justice for Annamarie and her family.”

The guilty verdict delivered by a jury on Oct. 7, 2016, came after three trials involving Rintala. The first two trials resulted in mistrials when the jurors concluded that they were unable to reach a unanimous verdict.

Cara Rintala was indicted on Oct. 19, 2011 in connection with the March 29, 2010 death of her wife Annamarie Cochrane Rintala, at age 37. She remains held at MCI-Framingham.  

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Criminal charges are based on probable cause to believe a person has committed a crime.

All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.