SKOWHEGAN, Maine (NEWS CENTER) --- A Somerset County jury has spoken in the murder trial of Jay Mercier by convicting the Industry man of killing Rita St. Peter in July of 1980.
The decision brought a resolution to what was one of Maine's longest unsolved homicides. It took the jury about three hours to reach a guilty verdict for Mercier.
The 57-year-old was arrested last September in connection with St. Peter's death. Her badly beaten body was found off of Campground Road in Anson on the morning of July 5, 1980.
Throughout a six day murder trial, prosecutors pointed at tire tracks at the scene that matched ones found on the defendant's truck. The state also had collected new DNA evidence in recent years: sperm cells from Jay Mercier that were found on Rita St. Peter's body.
Attorneys John Martin and John Alsop, who represented Mercier, tried to make the case that while proof of sexual contact the presence of sperm did not indicate if Mercier committed the murder.
Yet in the end, even the defense admitted, it was difficult evidence to get by.
"Obviously it was the presence of his {Mercier's} sperm in her private parts," said Alsop, "and his denial of any involvement. That was the new evidence that came out and that was why they brought the case forward after 32 years and it was pretty potent stuff."
After the verdict was read, many of St. Peter's relatives who were in the courtroom embraced and were clearly excited by the jury's decision.
"I'm glad that it's finally over," said Christine Belangia, who is the victim's sister, "and he's going to pay for what he did."
Jay Mercier is now facing up to life in prison. He is expected to be sentenced in November. For now his attorneys say they are not sure if they will seek an appeal.
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