Closing arguments made in Tioga County murder trial

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Closing arguments were heard Wednesday in Tioga County Court in the case against Joseph M. Howell, who is accused of murdering Thomas Rath last year.

Howell, who is from Newfield, is charged with first-and-second degree murder, first-degree kidnapping and three counts of intimidating a witness in the abduction, torture and murder of Rath, who was living in Ithaca’s homeless encampment.

Rath’s body was discovered on Aug. 3, 2023 in a shallow grave in Candor.

More than a dozen people were originally charged in connection with Rath’s death.

According to the Owego Pennysaver, Howell’s attorneys pointed to a lack of evidence and the lack of credibility of the prosecution’s witnesses during their closing arguments.

District Attorney Kirk Martin provided a timeline of events and said Howell orchestrated everything that happened on the day of Rath’s abduction and torture.

The jury will continue deliberations today.