NORWICH – The public defense budget needs to be beefed up following six months of what is being described as “extraordinary” cases tried so far this year.

The Chenango County Public Defender’s office originally budgeted $215,000 for assigned counsel expenses, but requested another $200,000 at a meeting of the Chenango County Finance Committee last week. The full cost of the most recent Peter Wlasiuk murder trial is not yet known, but the Public Defender’s office is asking for $100,000 to cover initial bills.