Office of the District Attorney

P. David Soares
6 Lodge Street
Albany, New York 12207
(518) 487-5460
(518) 487-5093 FAX

ALBANY, NY –District Attorney P. David Soares today announced the Guilty Verdict by Jury of HASIM BURNELL, 21, of  Mountainview Terrace, Latham, NY on (1) count of Murder in the 1st Degree and (3) counts of Robbery in the 1st Degree.
 
A Jury found on the 5th Day of May, 2005, BURNELL entered the apartment 303 of 1702 Western Avenue in the Town of Guilderland with the intent to commit robbery and in the course and furtherance of that robbery did shoot Todd Pianowski with a handgun causing his death.
 
This was a retrial, after new technology of fingerprint analysis (Morehits Software) was revealed by the New York State Police during trial in April 2006.  Judge Herrick dismissed the first jury that was originally being presented by Chief Assistant District Attorney, Michael McDermott.  The two-week retrial was handled and prosecuted by Bruce Lennard, Assistant District Attorney in the Major Crimes Unit.
 
DA Soares wanted to thank the jury for their service.  “Hasim Burnell will never walk the streets of Albany County again. What possessed this young man to walk into the home of an acquaintance and take his life is something only he can truly know. He will spend the remainder of his life thinking about it.  I know that it’s of little solace, but I do hope that this verdict will bring some relief and closure to those who loved Mr. Pianowski,” he said.
 
BURNELL will be sentenced November 15, 2006 in front of Honorable Stephen Herrick.  He faces a maximum of life without the possibility of parole.

Back to Press Releases

For further information contact: Rachel McEneny