JOHNSTOWN - A new "person of interest" has emerged in the July 6 slaying of Brian L. Morrison.
Authorities say multiple witnesses now claim 27-year-old Derrick Paul of Gloversville punched the victim to the ground minutes before Morrison's stabbed body was found on Bleecker Street in Gloversville.
The defense for accused murder suspect Derek A. "Deke" Kenney has filed for dismissal of charges against him because lawyers think Gloversville police were "hasty" in arresting him.
In a press conference Friday, Fulton County District Attorney Louise K. Sira said Paul has been identified as having had a "physical altercation" with Morrison the night of the Johnstown man's murder. Paul is now labeled a "person of interest," and the district attorney said this is a "significant change of circumstances" in the murder investigation.
Police said Friday that Paul hasn't been charged, but he was believed to still be in the Gloversville area.
Sira said witnesses have come forward to say Paul punched Morrison in the face and knocked him to the ground sometime between 11:26 p.m., when Morrison left a Bleecker Street bar, to 11:59 p.m., when a 911 call came in that his body was found.
"This is new information," she said. "This was information not disclosed to the grand jury."
She said she's not sure why Paul attacked Morrison.
Sira said it has been determined in the last couple of days that several witnesses gave false information to police and a Fulton County grand jury, which indicted Kenney in connection with the stabbing death of Morrison, 42, of Ted Drive, Johnstown.
She said "fear" may have been the main reason witnesses lied. She said none of those people have been charged with perjury yet.
She said Bruce Hillbourne, a previous witness to the grand jury, still is one of the witnesses in the case.
Kenney's defense attorneys, Heidi Gifford and James DiPasquale, issued a statement Friday saying they filed a County Court motion on his behalf calling for the "immediate dismissal" of all charges against Kenney.
"Earlier [Friday], our office filed a motion on behalf of Mr. Kenney, which seeks various forms of relief, including the immediate dismissal of all charges," the lawyers said. "Given the new evidence, it is expected that we will modify this motion accordingly."
Sira noted Kenney, 40, still is in the County Jail without bail, having been indicted by the county grand jury Sept. 2. He faces charges of second-degree murder, first-degree assault and criminal possession of a weapon. All three are felonies.
"Since the time of his arrest, we have maintained that Mr. Kenney is innocent," the defense attorneys said in their statement.
Gloversville police charged Kenney on July 9, saying he fatally stabbed Morrison in the neck and left him to die on Bleecker Street in Gloversville.
Kenney, whom investigators described as a "known drunk" and drug user, has been arrested more than a dozen times, including twice in the days leading up to Morrison's death. Morrison was found unresponsive on the terrace on Bleecker Street. Investigators said Kenney visited the scene of the crime more than once on the night Morrison was found.
Police seized a pocket knife they believe may have been used to commit the murder.
In their statement, Kenney's lawyers said: "The murder of Brian Morrison was a horrific event which required a prompt response by local and state police. We believe that Kenney's arrest was hasty and based upon less than credible evidence. The police needed to act fast to protect the public, but unfortunately in this instance the wrong person was arrested."
"The newly discovered evidence further confirms that Kenney is innocent of all charges and should be released," Gifford and DiPasquale stated. "Our office commends the continued efforts of the police in further investigating Mr. Morrison's death and their decision to consider new leads against other possible suspects."
Sira said Morrison's family is "naturally upset" by the latest developments.
"They remain committed to us and the police department to make sure the right person is charged," she said.
People with new information in the case are asked to call Gloversville police at (518) 773-4505.
Gloversville police Capt. James Lorenzoni said although Paul has been identified as a "person of interest" in the case, he has not been arrested. He said several people will be interviewed in the coming days in connection with the case.
"This is new information that recently surfaced," he said.
Lorenzoni said Paul has been "known to [police] in the past," although he said that doesn't necessarily denote a criminal history.
He also said none of the new developments in the case exonerates Kenney at this point.
Kenney pleaded not guilty recently during his arraignment in County Court.
After that arraignment before Judge Polly A. Hoye, Gifford told the media the prosecution led by Sira doesn't have anything to link Kenney - who police said was homeless in Gloversville at the time - to the fatal stabbing of Morrison. She said her client also has an alibi witness.
Hoye scheduled the next court appearance, with Kenney for 9 a.m. Nov. 30 at the courthouse.
Michael Anich covers Johnstown and Fulton County news. He can be reached at johnstown@leaderherald.com.
