BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – The suspect in a Burlington murder case was in court on Monday to get several other criminal cases off the books.
Claude Mumbere appeared in court in person and took a plea deal on several charges, most of them misdemeanor unlawful mischief.
But he still faces several serious charges, including aggravated murder for the death of Kelley Cusson, 31. She was found strangled and smothered to death in a Burlington park.
Cusson’s mother, Tina Cusson, was in court on Monday. She told our Ike Bendavid she wants justice.
Reporter Ike Bendavid: What was it like seeing him and being that close to him in court today?
Tina Cusson: I probably shouldn’t say it. I didn’t like it.
As part of the plea deal on the lesser charges, Mumbere will spend up to a year in prison.
He is being held without bail pending trial on the murder and an unrelated aggravated assault charge.