The case against a man accused of setting a fire that killed a Branford woman in 2006 has been dismissed, according to the Connecticut U.S. Attorney’s Office.
John Vailette, 48, was convicted of murder and arson charges in 2015, accused of setting the fire that killed Kathy Hardy. However, on August 23, 2018, a judge granted him a new trial due to new information that law enforcement failed to disclose a prosecution witness in the original trial to the defense.
U.S. Attorney John Durham agreed to dismiss the case, stating in a motion that a necessary witness for a new trial has passed away and citing the failure to disclose the information during the original trial as reasons why prosecution should not go forward.
