Michelle Troconis sobs as police interview about Jennifer Dulos’s death played at trial: Updates
Michelle Troconis is accused of helping then-boyfriend Fotis Dulos cover up the murder of his estranged wife Jennifer Dulos in Connecticut in 2019
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday
Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US
Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US
Michelle Troconis is facing trial in Stamford, Connecticut for her alleged role in helping her lover Fotis Dulos conceal the murder of his estranged wife and mother of his five children, Jennifer Dulos.
At the time of her disappearance in May 2019, Jennifer – whose remains have never been found – was in the midst of a bitter divorce and custody battle with Dulos. Investigators believe Fotis killed her in the garage of her home and that Ms Troconis, Fotis’ then-girlfriend, helped him cover up the murder.
On Thursday, Ms Troconis broke down in tears in the courtroom as jurors were shown her first interview with police following Jennifer’s disappearance.
In the footage, she is heard claiming that she and Dulos were staying together that morning, and that he woke up in her presence and got in the shower with her.
Earlier in the week, jurors saw a bloodstained long-sleeve, striped Vineyard Vines shirt that Jennifer is believed to have been wearing on the day she was killed.
Fotis killed himself in 2020 after being charged with murder.
Ms Troconis is charged with conspiracy to murder, tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution.
Warning: Graphic images
What happened to Jennifer Dulos’ children?
Mom-of-five murdered, husband dead by suicide and his lover on trial: The Jennifer Dulos case
Michelle Troconis defended by her family at Jennifer Dulos murder conspiracy trial
Michelle Troconis trial kicks off with new bodycam video from Jennifer Dulos search
Prosecution introduces ‘alibi scripts'
Det Reilly is now reading the “alibi scripts,” that Michelle Troconis and Fotis Dulos reportedly wrote together.
The script appears to be written in cursive and Det Reilly struggled as he read some of the words.
The defence objected to the detective’s attempt to make out the words without being entirely sure, which the judge sustained.
“If the witness cannot read something ... To have the witness misread something is misinterpreting what the document is, and I’m not sure that him reading it is making it any clearer, or misstating words or saying ...‘I think I know what they are.’”
Court takes lunch recess
Det Reilly is expected to continue his testimony.
Court is expected to adjourn early as there are no more witnesses for the day.
Law enforcement searched two residences where Dulos once lived
Det Reilly is walking jurors through his investigation at an abandoned Deer Cliff property owned by Fotis Dulos. The detective said that he and other law enforcement were looking for any evidence regarding Jennifer Dulos.
The detective also searched a home in Mountain Spring, which was previously dug.
Court sees photos of contents found in Chevy Suburban
Photos of several items, including the weather tech liner from the rear cargo area of the Chevy Suburban, were shown to the court.
Blood detected in cargo area of Chevy Suburban after it illuminated when sprayed with luminol
Det Reilly is testifying about the Chevy Suburban that was also seized in the investigation.
Focus is on the rear cargo area where splotches are seen on the weather tech liner in photos shown to the court.
Det Reilly testifies that the rear cargo area illuminated when it was sprayed with luminol. It was tested and a small part came back positive. It was sent out for further analysis.
State shows photos of contents found in Fotis' Jeep Cherokee
As the state showed the court photos of Fotis Dulos’ Jeep Cherokee, which was seized early in the investigation, the defence objected multiple times to its relevance.
Attorney Schoenhorn at one point even objected to evidence in favour of his client. Det Reilly had testified that a potential blood stain came back negative and Mr Schoenhorn objects arguing that it should be “stricken from the record if it came back negative, because it’s irrelevant”.
After several objections, the state pointed out that the Jeep Cherokee is indeed relevant and that additional details will come out in later testimony.
Prosecutors show pictures of pickup truck to jury
Det Reilly said that he tested the driver’s door of the pickup truck with luminol, but a presumptive DNA test came back negative.
Det Reilly resumes testimony
The prosecution has called Det Reilly, who was in charge of processing the vehicle used by Fotis Dulos to dispose of evidence, back to the stand.
Det Reilly said that while processing the vehicle, he was looking for an Adidas ball cap and black and yellow gloves. After removing the items inside, Det Reilly said that he swabbed parts of the vehicle.
