Jurors in Brooklyn Supreme Court got their first look Monday at the case against 87‑year‑old Harvey Marcelin, whom prosecutors accuse of killing and dismembering 68‑year‑old Susan Leyden in early 2022. Marcelin, who has pleaded not guilty, was wheeled into the courtroom as prosecutors previewed a case they say will lean heavily on video footage and forensic work. The proceedings mark the latest phase in a case that has drawn national attention for both its brutality and Marcelin’s long, violent criminal record.
Prosecutors Lay Out A Grisly Timeline
In opening statements, Assistant District Attorney Viviane Dussek told jurors that Leyden “walked into that building not knowing she would never walk out again,” as she described what prosecutors say was a deliberate, step‑by‑step dismemberment. Jurors were told they will see surveillance video and other records that, according to prosecutors, show Marcelin buying tools and supplies, then later leaving the building with a bag that investigators ultimately linked to Leyden. Those allegations are laid out in coverage by the New York Daily News.
Evidence At The Scene And The DA's Account
According to the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office, Leyden's torso was found in a shopping cart at a street corner in East New York, and a later search of Marcelin's apartment turned up additional remains along with what prosecutors describe as bloody bedding and tools. The DA’s March 2022 release details how investigators traced a discarded bag, obtained a search warrant, and seized those items. That official version forms the backbone of the prosecution’s factual narrative. The Brooklyn District Attorney's Office provided the initial account.
Defense Points To Another Witness
Defense attorneys for Marcelin are urging jurors to look closely at another woman, identified by prosecutors as Lisa Lindahl, who they say was in the apartment during the key time period. They argue her presence creates reasonable doubt about what actually happened. Prosecutors, for their part, say Lindahl, whom they describe as struggling with substance use at the time, saw incriminating evidence in the bathroom and is expected to testify as a crucial witness for the state. A recap of both sides’ openings appears in recent coverage by PEOPLE.
Pattern, Prior Cases And A Judge's Ruling
Marcelin’s past has loomed over public discussion of the case. Earlier convictions, including a 1963 murder and a separate 1985 killing that led to a lengthy prison sentence, have been widely reported and have fueled scrutiny of how and why Marcelin was back on the street. The New York Times has detailed Marcelin’s parole history and prior terms of incarceration.
In pretrial rulings, however, the judge drew a line around how far prosecutors can go with that history. Reporting indicates that the 1963 conviction can be raised only if Marcelin takes the stand, a limitation the court imposed in an effort to reduce unfair prejudice during jury deliberations. The New York Daily News summarized that ruling.
What Comes Next
Prosecutors say they plan to call witnesses and roll out surveillance footage and forensic evidence over the coming days. Lindahl is listed as a potential witness, and neighbors and detectives are also expected to take the stand. The defense has signaled that it will push alternative explanations for the physical evidence and DNA results referenced in pretrial filings and press reports. For ongoing coverage and a recap of how the investigation unfolded in 2022, readers can look to reporting by PEOPLE as well as the DA’s earlier statements.
The trial highlights broader debates about parole, post‑release supervision and the use of prior crimes as evidence in front of a jury. Those issues have trailed this case since Leyden’s remains were first discovered in 2022, and jurors will now have to weigh the prosecution’s evidence against the defense’s version of events as the testimony unfolds.
