Nappi's wife tipped off authorities about found gun
Story Created:
Jan 12, 2010 at 1:57 PM EDT
Story Updated:
Jan 12, 2010 at 7:17 PM EDT
HERKIMER, N.Y. (WKTV) - The trial of Donato Nappi, the man charged with violating his parole, began Tuesday morning in Herkimer County Court. Nappi is on parole after spending 26 years in prison for murdering Dawn Grillo in 1979.
Nappi possessed a semi automatic handgun, a gun that was found by authorities at his Town of Webb home last January, said Herkimer County Assistant District Attorney Scott Klosner in court Tuesday.
Nappi has been charged with criminal possession of a weapon because owning a gun goes against his parole agreement, said Klosner. Klosner told the jury, during opening arguments, that Nappi's DNA was found on the Colt 45 handgun.
Nappi's attorney, Christopher Pelli, told jurors Tuesday that his client was set up, most likely by his wife.
On the day the gun was found state troopers were at Nappi's home early in the day with a warrant looking for Nappi's step son, no gun was found, Pelli said. However a few hours later a " confidential informant" called Nappi's parole officer tipping him off to a gun in the house, said Pelli. Authorities later returned to the house found a gun, and arrested Nappi.
As the trial resumed Tuesday afternoon, the confidential informant turned out to be Nappi's wife. Herkimer County Judge Patrick Kirk said originally the confidential informant would remain anonymous until, however he modified that ruling because of testimony given by janice Nappi.
Donato Nappi was indicted by a grand jury on the gun possession charge last year, an indictment Pelli calls "worthless". Pelli told jurors Tuesday that on the 30 name witness list, for the trial, there are only government employees will make a lot of "noise" but will prove Donato Nappi owned the gun.
Both attorneys, and the judge expect this trial to be brief.
Janice Nappi is expected to take the stand again Wednesday morning when the trial resumes.
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