The judge presiding over a former Mount Kisco police officer's manslaughter trial added a new charge on Monday.

Judge Lester Adler allowed prosecutors to include a lesser charge of criminally negligent homicide against George Bubaris in the April 2007 death of illegal immigrant Rene Perez.

Last week, Adler granted the defense's request to dismiss lesser charges of unlawful imprisonment and official misconduct, leaving only a second-degree manslaughter charge. Hispanic advocates complained that the jury's options would have been limited to convicting Bubaris of the more serious charge or finding him not guilty.

Prosecutors argue Bubaris delivered a deadly blow that killed a drunken Perez, however, the defense maintains that the "mountain of bad medical evidence" doesn't add up.

Closing arguments by both the prosecution and the defense summed up Monday. The jury will begin deliberations Wednesday.

Bubaris, who has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter, faces 5-15 years in prison if convicted.