January 28 / 6:30 pm
Funeral for Murdered East Hartford Officer
 (South Windsor-WTNH) _ Under a cold, drizzly sky, thousands of mourners gathered at St Margaret Mary church in South Windsor to pay their respects to officer Brian Aselton, an East Hartford police officer killed in the line of duty. Hours later mourners packed a South Windsor cemetery for his burial.
Aselton's flag-draped casket was brought into the church with fellow officers and family members acting as pallbearers. Officers saluted as the casket was removed from the hearse and brought into the church.
"I just wish he had one summer in the sun to ride his Harley."
John Aselton, Brother
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Inside there were tears and laughter as speaker after speaker shared their love and friendship and grief. They talked of the 26 year old's love of cars, motorcycles, his "mischievous grin", and dedication to his duty.
John Aselton, the brother of Brian and a Torrington police officer, said "I hope that when I do my job, that I can live up to his high level of integrity and professionalism. And I just wish he had one summer in the sun to ride his Harley."
East Hartford Chief James Shay told mourners "Death hits hardest when it comes to the very young, the very brightest, the very best. Brian was all of these."
 Following a ceremony that lasted about an hour, mourners began a slow procession to Wapping Cemetery in South Windsor about 2 miles away from the church where Aselton was buried. Horse patrols, motorcycle officers, and others lined up in formation to walk the procession route, with officers from East Hartford leading the way. Aselton, a former US Marine, was buried with full military and police honors.
More than 10,000 officers and civilians, including officers from 1,300 police departments from as far away as Maine were expected to attend. Governor John Rowland, Public Safety Commissioner Dr Henry Lee, and Chief State's Attorney John Bailey were among the state dignitaries in attendance.
Governor Rowland called it a "beautiful service" and "a great tribute and a great honor" paid to Aselton.
Mayor Marianne Fisher of South Windsor said "for anyone who has a son - it breaks your heart."
Mayor Tim Larson of East Hartford said he was proud of East Hartford's officers for the "dignity and respect" they showed laying their brother officer to rest. Larson said he would call on the Chief and other town officials to discuss some further type of recognition for Aselton in East Hartford.
 News Channel 8's Mark Davis reports on the graveside service.
Here's a timeline of events in the case.
Bond Increased for One of Two Women Charged in Aselton's Death
(Manchester-WTNH) _ While funeral services for Brian Aselton were going on, two of the three suspects arrested in connection with the shooting faced a judge.
29 year old Nency Forty and 23 year old Erica Vilchel are both facing a string of charges in connection with officer Aselton's murder.
News Channel 8's Verna Collins reports.
Wednesday, police charged 23 year old Noel "Alex" Sostre with being the triggerman. Sostre, an unemployed, homeless man from Puerto Rico, has a criminal history which includes assault. Police say he has made a written confession to the murder.
Wake, Funeral Set for Santa-Maria
(WTNH) _ The wake for another police officer, Brookfield Representative Scott Santa-Maria will be held today. Police found Santa-Maria's body Tuesday at a cemetery in Brookfield near the grave of a close friend who died ten year earlier. Autopsy results show Santa-Maria killed himself. The wake will be held from 1pm to 8pm at Green's Funeral home in Danbury. The funeral will be Friday at 10am at St. Joseph's Church in Brookfield. At the state capitol, the state Senate chamber was silenced for a few seconds this afternoon to honor Santa-Maria.
Peckinpaugh Awarded Millions in Suit Against WFSB
 (Hartford-WTNH) _ A jury in Hartford as awarded TV anchorwoman Janet Peckinpaugh more than $8 million in her lawsuit against her former employer WFSB-TV.
The 5 man, 3 woman jury found that Post-Newsweek, the former owner of WFSB, was guilty of malice or reckless indifference regarding gender discrimination. The jury also found company executives Chris Rohrs, Mark Effron and William Ryan were guilty of gender discrimination for failing to offer a contract. The juror also found that Peckinpaugh proved there was a breach of her contract and that the station made false statements to her, knowing that she would rely on those statements.
Janet Peckinpaugh: "This is a victory for every woman in television. This is a victory for every woman who wants to choose this as a profession in the future. And I'm very proud right now that we were able to have this outcome. It's wonderful."
G. William Ryan, President, Post-Newsweek Stations: "Should have been a simple contract case. And it became a case of - as you know - sexual allegations and conspiracies and retaliation and a whole number of other things."
The attorney for Post-Newsweek says they will appeal. A former WTNH anchor, Peckinpaugh now works at WVIT-TV.
Police Question Student About Attack Claim
(New Haven-WTNH) _ An Albertus Magnus college coed who claimed she was attacked on campus is now being questioned by police about her story. A spokesperson from the school says police met with the woman at the campus center earlier today.
She told them she needed to go to her dorm room and would be right back, then never returned. Police finally found her in a friend's room. The student claimed an unidentified man attacked her in her dorm room last week.
Student Faces Trial in Yale Fraud Case
(New Haven-WTNH) _ An Ohio woman accused of cheating her way into Yale will be put on trial, in a case that has had several bizarre turns.
A judge in New Haven has told Tonica Jenkins that a plea bargain offer from the state is no longer on the table. Last week, her lawyer had asked for time to investigate a strange letter than turned up claiming that Jenkins was being victimized by Yale. Jenkins faces charges of larceny, forgery, escape, and failure to appear in court.
Branford Marks Anniversary of Downtown Fire
(Branford-WTNH) _ It's been exactly one year since a devastating fire struck downtown Branford. For business owners who lost everything the last twelve months have not been easy. But many of them are well on the road to recovery.
News Channel 8's Peter Standring reports.
Senate Adopts Witness Procedure - Trial May End In February
(Capitol Hill-AP) _ Senate Republicans have crushed a Democratic call for an immediate vote on President Clinton's fate -- and pushed through their own plan to depose witnesses. The Republican plan would allow public airing of Monica Lewinsky's videotaped testimony at Clinton's impeachment trial. The rapid-fire developments on the Senate floor followed strict party lines. Senate leaders had spent the day trying to work out a bipartisan plan to wrap up the trial. Both sides did agree to a February 12th target date for a vote on the impeachment articles. The depositions of Lewinsky, Vernon Jordan and White House aide Sidney Blumenthal are to begin on Monday.
Senate Reconfirms Ragaglia as DCF Commissioner
(Hartford-AP) _ The state Senate on a 29-3 vote OK's DCF Commissioner Kristine Ragaglia to another term. Several senators who voted for Ragaglia say she's done a lot to turn around the beleaguered department since she took office in 1997. They noted heading DCF is a tough job and she needs more money and resources to protect Connecticut's children. Three senators voted against her appointment. Senator Eric Coleman, a Bloomfield Democrat, says that many problems at DCF persist. He noted that when Ragaglia was child advocate, she criticized the agency but has not yet solved those problems. The agency's been under fire for three high-profile child deaths. Social workers at the agency say caseloads are too high.
Primary Financial Backer of Bridgeport Harbor Project Withdraws
(Bridgeport-AP) _ A cash flow problem is threatening some plans to transform Bridgeport's waterfront into a shopping and entertainment center. The developer behind the $1 billion Harbour Place project says the primary financial backing is gone. City and state officials have hailed the sprawling Harbour Place project as the way to revitalize Bridgeport, a city that has tried unsuccessfully for years to develop its waterfront. Developer Alex Conroy says an international firm responsible for assembling nearly $800 million in private financing has dropped out of the project. But Conroy says he's seeking new investors. Plans include a factory outlet mall, a hotel, nightclubs, restaurants, an IMAX theater, and an illuminated, permanently docked ocean liner that would rise above Interstate 95.
Man Found Dead in His Home After Fire
(Griswold-AP) _ Firefighters, responding to a trailer fire, found the body of a man inside the doorway, said state police. Police did not release his identity, but neighbors said the victim was Fred Austin, a retired New Britain police officer and co-founder of the Griswold's Taxpayer's Association. Neighbor Ray Miner noticed smoke billowing out of Austin's trailer about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday and, along with another man, struggled in vain to get in. Neighbors said Austin heated his trailer with kerosene heaters and had talked about fixing his furnace.
Man Killed Opening Front Killing
(Bridgeport-AP) _ Police still have no suspects in yesterday's killing of an 18 year old Bridgeport man. Police say Fernando Nieves Junior was attacked just before 10:30 am inside his apartment while answering the front door. Witnesses tell police Nieves had just answered his door and was attempting to shut it on his assailants when he was shot several times in the chest. He was pronounced dead at Bridgeport Hospital. No arrests have been made. Police say they are looking for suspects.
G.Fox Building May be Sold
(Hartford-AP) _ There is a new plan for dealing with an old building in Hartford. The city is negotiating to sell off the G.Fox building which could become a new community college campus. The city has owned the building for six years and has used in to stage special holiday presentations in recent years during Halloween and Christmas.
State Sex Offender Website Online
(Hartford-WTNH) _ The State of Connecticut's Sex Offender Registry went online at the first of the year. Residents can look to see if a convicted sex offender is living in their neighborhood by accessing the information through the Department of Public Safety's website at www.state.ct.us/dps/
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