Saratoga County District Attorney Karen A. Heggen reports today that Ramiz T. Hajratalli, dob 12/29/85 of Saratoga Springs, New York, was convicted today of two counts of Burglary in the Second Degree, in violation of New York State Penal Law Section 140.25(2), Class “C” Violent Felonies, and two counts of Criminal Mischief in the Fourth Degree, in violation of New York State Penal Law Section 145.00(1), Class “A” misdemeanors, by a Saratoga County Jury.
The defendant was convicted today of entering two separate residences- one on Caroline Street and one on Jumel Place- on different dates while the residents of those locations were home at night sleeping. In one instance, one of the occupants woke up, saw the defendant in his bedroom and chased him out of the house, down the street and apprehended him until the police arrived. The other burglary, on a separate date and location, involved the defendant prying open the door to the victim’s apartment and also entering a bedroom where the victim was asleep. The defendant also fled that location when the victim woke up to an intruder in her bedroom and yelled loudly for him to “get out”. The defendant was not located that night, but was subsequently arrested after the Saratoga Springs Police Department located physical evidence that tied the defendant to that burglary.
District Attorney Heggen said “This trial lasted over 3 ½ weeks, involved more than 20 witnesses and over 150 items of evidence. First Assistant District Attorney Alan M. Poremba methodically pieced together all of the evidence to show to the jury that defendant Hajratalli committed both of these burglaries”. Heggen commended the efforts of the Saratoga Springs Police Department for their work investigating this case. Heggen also noted, “The civilian witnesses’ testimony provided the jury with first-hand accounts of the actions of this defendant when they discovered him in their homes. Their testimony recounted the sense of fear and shock of being suddenly awaken and finding a stranger in their bedrooms”.
The trial began on February 5, 2018 with jury selection and continued throughout the last three weeks. Closing arguments were delivered yesterday, and the jury began deliberations today at 10:45 am. The jury foreperson delivered the verdict at 2:00 pm today. Saratoga County Court Judge James A. Murphy, III presided over the trial. The defendant was represented by Kevin A. Luibrand. The case was prosecuted by First Assistant District Attorney Alan M. Poremba, and assisted by Assistant District Attorney Michele Schettino.