NEW YORK (AP) — Mayor Bill de Blasio said he was “surprised” that a judge overturned the conviction of a New York Police Department officer accused of plotting to kill and eat young women.
Judge Paul Gardephe ruled Monday that there was insufficient evidence to support a jury’s guilty verdict in the kidnapping conspiracy conviction of Gilberto Valle (VAL’-ee).
He agreed with defense arguments that Valle’s lurid messages in fetish chat rooms about his wife and other women never actually endangered anyone.
De Blasio said Wednesday that he found the situation “troubling.”
Valle, who has been dubbed the “Cannibal Cop” by the city’s tabloids, said he may try to get his NYPD job back.
De Blasio said he did not believe that should be allowed.
