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.
Michelle Troconis’ trial is almost over. A jury will decide if she conspired to kill her lover’s ex-wife
Michelle Troconis may be held in contempt of court in Jennifer Dulos conspiracy to murder case
Michelle Troconis’ alleged comments about wanting ‘to kill’ and ‘bury’ Jennifer Dulos revealed at trial
Defence says Fotis Dulos 'put on a facade until his last, poisoned breath’
"Whatever Fotis Dulos did, it was not for or because of Michelle, and it was not ‘with’ her. Fotis put up a facade until his last, poisoned breath," Attorney Schoenhorn said during closing arguments.
He put the blame solely on Fotis and said his client had nothing to do with Jennifer Dulos’ disappearance.
Schoenhorn claimed that the state’s case against Troconis was based on “unfounded and unfair assumptions.”
State says trial is about ‘conspiracy and a coverup’
Prosecutors Michelle Manning and Sean McGuinness told jurors on Tuesday that Michelle Troconis was angry and fed up with the divorce case between her boyfriend Fotis Dulos and his estranged wife Jennifer Dulos and that she had called Jennifer disparaging names.
“Jennifer is dead, and Fotis and Michcelle Troconis intended that to happen,” Ms Manning said.
“They agreed to work together to make it happen, and unfortunately they were successful in making it happen. But they got caught. This trial is very simple. It’s about a conspiracy and a coverup.”
Michelle Troconis’ fate is now in the hands of the jury
Is Michelle Troconis a murderous conspirator or an innocent bystander?
The decision of her fate is now up to the jury.
The six-member panel began deliberations Tuesday afternoon on charges including conspiracy to commit murder, evidence tampering and hindering prosecution.
After dismissing for the night, jurors will continue Wednesday. Troconis has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
What to expect today in the Michelle Troconis trial
Jurors return to the courthouse in Stamford, Connecticut at 10am on Wednesday to continue deliberating.
The six-person jury began deliberating on Tuesday after a long day of listening to closing arguments.
Before being dismissed for the evening, they asked for an easel, which the judge said he would try to get for them by the morning.
Michelle Troconis and family arrive for first full day of jury deliberations
Michelle Troconis and her family have arrived at Stamford Superior Court in Connecicut for the first full day of jury deliberations.
The jury only deliberated for about 30 minutes on Tuesday following closing arguments.
The judge noted that the jury will be brought in to the courtroom to be dismissed for a lunch break before being sent back to the jury room.
‘Jennifer is dead, and Fotis, and Michcelle Troconis intended that to happen,’ state says
Prosecutors Michelle Manning and Sean McGuinness told jurors on Tuesday that Michelle Troconis was angry and fed up with the divorce case between her boyfriend Fotis Dulos and his estranged wife Jennifer Dulos and that she had called Jennifer disparaging names.
“Jennifer is dead, and Fotis and Michcelle Troconis intended that to happen,” Ms Manning said.
“They agreed to work together to make it happen, and unfortunately they were successful in making it happen. But they got caught. This trial is very simple. It’s about a conspiracy and a coverup.”
Defence takes questions from reporters and shows off his tie
As deliberations began on Tuesday afternoon, defence attorney Jon Schoenhorn spoke to members of the media outside of the courthouse.
“We believe the state has present insufficient evidence,” Mr Schoenhorn said, showing off his tie, which was printed with the words of the US constitution.
“It was either this one or my ‘not guilty’ tie,” he joked.
Mr Schoenhorn said that as we wait for a verdict, “it’s a nail biting time for everyone,” includiung Ms Troconis’ family who watched quietly from the crowd.
Supporters, loved ones of Jennifer Dulos thank investigators at courthouse
During lunch recess on Tuesday, 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 were many more spectators than usual as dozens came out in force for the closing arguments.
The jury continues their deliberations today.
PHOTOS: Michelle Troconis covers faces, clutches hands together during closing arguments
