Judges Donalty and Dwyer recuse themselves from 1993 murder case

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Story Created: Nov 19, 2008 at 10:37 AM EST

Story Updated: Nov 19, 2008 at 1:29 PM EST

UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - The man charged in connection with a December 13, 1993 murder outside "Studio 54," a then-Utica nightclub, will stand before a new judge when he goes to trial.

Both Judge Michael Dwyer and Judge Barry Donalty have recused themselves from the case of Donovan Skelton, AKA "Tallman," , saying they both were working in the District Attorney's office at the time of the murder.

Skelton is accused of shooting 16-year-old Harold Surrarow at a Utica bar on LaFayette Street back in 1993.

A warrant for his arrest was issued at that time. Skelton fled the United States to his native Jamaica prior to authorities locating and arresting him.

In 2004 the United States Marshals Service adopted the Oneida County Murder 2nd warrant and began to look for Skelton with the assistance of the Oneida County Sheriffs Office Warrants Unit. Information developed during the investigation indicated Skelton had left Jamaica and was living in the Bahamas. United States Marshals investigators sent leads to Jamaica and the Bahamas.

On April 4, 2008 authorities in the Bahamas located Skelton utilizing information from the leads sent to them. United States Marshals investigators obtained a Provisional Arrest Warrant for Skelton in the Bahamas and on April 7, 2008 Bahamian authorities then arrested Skelton on the Provisional Arrest Warrant.

On October 14, 2008 members of the United States Marshals Service, Utica office traveled to Nassau in the Bahamas and took custody of Skelton.

Skelton was returned to Oneida County by United States Marshals Service Investigators on October 17, 2008.

On October 29, Skelton, entered a plea of not guilty in Oneida County Court.

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