The trial of a Seneca Falls man accused of killing his 3-year-old stepson won’t happen until April.
Donald Bovio had been scheduled to go on trial Feb. 18. However, Bovio’s attorney, Rome Canzano, requested a delay, and the new trial date is April 22.
Bovio faces charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter, assault, reckless assault of a child, criminal possession of a weapon, and endangering the welfare of a child. The charges stem from the May 16, 2018 death and alleged abuse of Panagiotis “Peter” Stephanides-Vacchino.
On the night of May 12, Seneca Falls police arrived at the Hunter’s Run apartments on Peterman Road and found Peter unconscious on the kitchen floor. Bovio and his wife, Alison, were there at the time. Donald Bovio had called 911, saying the boy fell down some stairs.
Police said they found the child unresponsive and barely breathing.
Peter was taken to Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse, where doctors told police the injuries were not consistent with a fall. That prompted an abuse investigation that led to the Bovios being charged with assault.
Peter was on life support at the hospital for several days before he died. Police said the child suffered substantial trauma to his head and body.
Then-District Attorney Barry Porsch presented the case to a grand jury after Peter died, leading to murder charges against Donald and Alison Bovio.
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