ALBANY N.Y. (NEWS10) – The Albany man accused of killing his sister appeared in county court Friday morning to face enhanced charges. Alphonso Lester pleaded not guilty to the latest charges.
His first count, second degree murder, a class A-1 violent felony. His second count was burglary in the first degree, a class C felony. Lester appeared in front of Judge William Little and, again, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
60-year-old Lester is accused of using a hammer to fatally strike his 61-year-old sister Angela Helms, after he forced entry into her Hudson Avenue home around 7:00 A.M. on October 15.
Albany Police responded to a call for an unresponsive woman around 8:00 A.M. That’s when they found Helms suffering from massive head trauma and significant blood loss, ultimately resulting in the victim’s death.
Later that day, there was a heavy police presence at Lester’s home at 173 Western Avenue, where there was a standoff for hours. After he was arrested, investigators were seen on the second floor searching his apartment and searching his vehicle, before having it towed.
Criminal court records show Lester was sentenced on January 17 for operating a vehicle while impaired by drugs.
He was arrested by New York State Police for traffic infractions and possession of cocaine on October 4, a little more than a week before he allegedly killed his sister.
Lester was, again, remanded to Albany County Correctional Facility and awaits his next court date, a compliance conference, on November 21.
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