New York City Poker Murder

[Cal here, checking in---]

The latest from the New York City poker murder was an arrest and arraignment, followed quickly by a release. NYC police arrested William Delvalle, 35, as part of the heist and presumably accidental murder of player Frank DeSena at the newly opened underground poker club within walking distance of the Empire State Building. Delvalle was believed to be involved but was not suspected of being the shooter, though police did not release information as to why this was so. Delvalle also had a rap sheet with serious crimes in his past, including serving eight years for manslaughter after firing into a crowd of people, killing a 21-year-old woman.

However, Delvalle could not be bound over for trial because of a legal technicality that states that a 144-hour window must be adhered to for initial hearings. For whatever reason, Delvalle's hearing went just outside that, and so the judge ordered him released on his own recognizance, pending trial at a later date. It did not mean that the charges were dropped; rather, Delvalle could not be held pending bail until the trial, now scheduled for January.

DeSena's relatives were pleased at Delvalle's arrest, but obviously dismayed at his subsequent release, according to several reports in New York and New Jersey newspapers.

The search continues for the others -- either two or three -- believed to be involved in the heist.