Michelle Troconis found guilty on six counts in Jennifer Dulos murder case
Michelle Troconis, 49, pleaded not guilty and denies any involvement in Jennifer Dulos’ disappearance and death
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Michelle Troconis has been found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder.
After 12 hours of deliberation over the past three days, the jury found Ms Troconis guilty on all six counts Friday.
Jurors were tasked with deciding whether the 49-year-old conspired with her former boyfriend Fotis Dulos to kill his estranged wife, Jennifer Dulos, in Connecticut on 24 May 2019, and cover up the crime.
During closing arguments, prosecutors described Jennifer’s murder as “deliberate and intentional” and said that Troconis and Dulos “worked to make this happen”.
Jennifer’s body has never been found, but she has been officially declared dead – with police finding that she died a violent death at the hands of Dulos.
In January 2020, Fotis died by suicide after being charged with her murder.
Troconis pleaded not guilty and insisted she did not know Fotis was doing anything nefarious as she watched him toss garbage bags into random bins, or as she helped him write up a timeline of their whereabouts on the day Jennifer disappeared.
State is back to finish their closing argument
The state is back up to finish their closing argument to the court.
The defence has finished their hour and now the state will have the last word before the jury is given the case
State asks ‘why is somone who is so innocent lying so much?’
McGuiness is now speaking for the state and says Troconis was undoubtedly invoolved in the murder of Jennifer Dulos.
He told the jury they shoul reject the defence arguments because of the inconsisentiss of Troconis statements – ‘why is somone is someone who is so innocent lying so much?’
State tells jury ‘we’ve met our burden of proof here’
As the state goes through the “inconsistensies” showing slides, he asks “is it really just a series of consequences?”
“Are all these things coincidence or is the defendant guilty?” McGuinness asks.
He then tells the jury that the state has met their burden of proof, now it’s up to the jury to follow through.
State ends closing arguments
“These were really scripts and you know all scripts have three acts. The first was the murder. The second was the coverup. And she doesn’t get to write the third. You do. What’s the ending going to be?"
“You get to write the ending with your verdict.”
Supporters, loved ones of Jennifer Dulos thank investigators during break
During lunch recess, several of the supporters here in the court for Jennifer Dulos are thanking investigators for their work on the case.
Some of them are emotional as the long-awaited trial is finally wrapping up.
There are more spectators than usual and the courtroom is packed forcing several people into the overflow room.
Court will resume at 2pm.
Court will return for jury instructions after lunch
Court is in recess for the lunch break.
Closing arguments have ended and court will resume at 2pm for jury instructions.
The jury instructions are expected to last about 50 minutes, the judge said.
Court is in recess until 2pm
Upon their return from lunch, they will hear jury instructions.
The final witness to testify before today’s closing arguments was Gloria Farber, Jennifer’s mother.
Jennifer’s five children listened as their grandmother testified, recalling how Jennifer “never” missed one of their birthdays or “name days,” which is a Greek tradition.
Three words prove Troconis’s innocence, defence argues
In their closing argument on Tuesday, the defence showed a clip from Troconis’s police interview they say prove her innocence.
In the clip, the Stamford State’s Attorney can be heard saying, “She doesn’t know,” in reference to Troconis.
Defence attorney Jon Schoenhorn said this statement should clear his client’s name.
“If he thought she didn’t know, that’s reasonable doubt,” he said.
Court is in recess until 2pm, after which they will hear jury instructions, then begin deliberations.
Court is back in session
The jury returned to the courtroom at 2:10 pm.
They will now receive instructions from the judge before entering deliberations.
Judge instructs jury on “reasonable doubt"
Judge Kevin Randolph is now instructing the jury, explaining that the state bears the burden of proving the defendant’s guilt “beyond a reasonable doubt.”
“It is not a surmise, a guess, or a mere conjecture,” the judge said. “Reasonable doubt is a real doubt, an honest doubt, a doubt that has its foundation in the evidence or lack of evidence.”
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