NORWICH – One of Chenango County’s most famous murder defendants will see his second trial for that alleged crime begin early next year.

On Friday, Peter M. Wlasiuk appeared in court with his newly-retained private attorney Randel Scharf. Broome County Court Judge Martin E. Smith chose Jan. 16 as the date to begin jury selection. That date could change if Wlasiuk decides to use a psychiatric defense, in which case the districts attorney’s office would need time to have its experts evaluate him.

Wlasiuk, 37, was found guilty of 2nd degree murder and given the maximum sentence of 25 years to life for allegedly murdering his wife Patricia and then staging a vehicle accident at Guilford Lake to cover it up in 2002. The New York Supreme Court of Appeals declared Wlasiuk’s first trial unfair, citing a number of procedural shortcomings in August.

Chenango County Judge Howard Sullivan recused himself from the retrial, saying he did not want anyone second guessing the results of the second trial and believed his presence would raise a question of doubt no matter what the outcome.