Elderly woman convicted in poisoning case


October 10, 2013 at 12:54p.m.

Elderly woman convicted in poisoning case

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. (AP) — An elderly northeastern Pennsylvania woman has been convicted of assault in what prosecutors called an intentional poisoning of her son’s girlfriend with antifreeze 3 1/2 years ago.

Jurors in Luzerne County deliberated for several hours Wednesday and today before convicting 81-year-old Helen Galli of Wyoming of aggravated and simple assault and recklessly endangering another person.

Prosecutors alleged that she laced fruit juice with antifreeze that was then consumed by 43-year-old Dawn Simyan in March 2010, sending the victim to the hospital for three weeks. Authorities alleged that Galli didn’t want the younger woman coming between her and her son.

Defense attorney Joseph Sklarosky Sr. accused Simyan of having poisoned herself because she was jealous of her boyfriend’s relationship with his mother.

Galli remains free on bail pending her Dec. 5 sentencing.