Patchita Tennant’s Attempted Murder Trial Begins

The trial of Patchita Tennant, who faces multiple felony charges, including attempted murder, began Tuesday, March 3.

Attorneys involved began the process of examining prospective jurors in the case of the East Hampton CVS manager accused of shooting her boyfriend, Andrew Silas Mitchell, three times with a .38-caliber revolver at their Flanders residence September 5.

Tennant’s attorneys, Matt Tuohy, who is expected to handle the bulk of the presentation to the jury during the trial, and Austin Manghan, have already said they are not contesting the fact that Tennant shot Mitchell. However, they say, it was in self-defense. They have described her as an abused woman.

“She is innocent. The truth is going to come out,” Tuohy said last week. “He had the gun on him. He fell and dropped the gun. It was a life-or-death situation.”

Touhy said “the best jurors are intelligent people,” and added that he expects his client to testify, and anticipates Mitchell being called to the stand by the prosecution. He also expects the trial to last about two weeks.

The prosecuting attorneys for Suffolk County District Attorney Tim Sini are Eric Aboulafia and Katharine D’Aquila.

Jury selection is expected to be completed by the end of the week, with opening arguments to be given on Monday, March 9.

The Independent will be reporting on the trial daily.

t.e@indyeastend.com