Pretrial Hearing in Case of Denville NJ Man Accused of Stabbing, Killing Ex-Wife

By Travis Tormey posted in Homicide on Monday, November 25, 2013

Bergen County NJ First Degree Murder AttorneysAt a pretrial hearing in Morris County Superior Court earlier this month, prosecutors in a murder case sought to admit key evidence of the defendant’s statements to investigators.

66-year-old Anthony Novellino has been accused of stabbing his ex-wife 84 times in 2010.

Prosecutors in the case are attempting to use as evidence statements made by Mr. Novellino. According to authorities, Mr. Novellino told interviewers about issues he had with his ex-wife.

At the hearing, prosecutors played an audio recording of the interview. Mr. Novellino can be heard describing his shock when being served divorce papers.

The interview was conducted by NJ authorities in Washington, where Mr. Novellino had been captured after a five-day manhunt to catch the murder suspect.

Prosecutors say that Mr. Novellino was so angry about the recent divorce and diminished finances that he killed his ex-wife in a fit of rage when she returned to their home to pick up her belongings.

Since homicide is the most serious criminal offense in New Jersey, it is classified as a first degree crime. Although first degree crimes typically carry a maximum of 20 years in prison, murder is treated differently. If Mr. Novellino is convicted of first degree homicide, he could be sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum term of imprisonment of 30 years.

To learn more about this case, check out the NJ.com article entitled “Prosecutor Seeks to Admit Denville Man’s Statements Following Stabbing Death of Wife.


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