Man expected to be charged with murder in woman’s death

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - An upstate New York man who was released under the state’s new bail reform laws is expected to be charged with murder.

Paul Barbaritano, 52, of Albany, was initially charged with second-degree manslaughter, an offense that no longer requires bail. Barbaritano is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday, the Times Union reported Monday.

Prosecutors said Barbaritano killed Nicole Jennings, 29, by tightening a nylon belt around her neck and stabbing her in the throat with a knife. Her body was found on July 5.

Barbaritano had self-inflicted wounds when he was arrested. He was placed in custody in Albany County Jail until he was released on Jan. 2.

Barbaritano’s attorney Rebekah Sokol said her client accidentally stabbed Jennings while trying to cut the belt from her neck after a sexual encounter involving erotic asphyxiation.

“He was absolutely trying to save this woman’s life,” Sokol said. “What happened was the result of a horrific accident — a perfect storm of tragic events.”