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Michelle Troconis, who is suspected of aiding in the murder of her boyfriend’s wife, may face charges of contempt of court for allegedly viewing sealed documents on her laptop during the trial.
On Friday, Judge Kevin A Randolph said he would schedule a contempt hearing after the defence rests. The judge was alerted on Thursday by someone in the court gallery that Ms Troconis, 49, had part of a sealed custody report on her laptop screen, according to NBC Connecticut.
According to prosecutors, Ms. Troconis was in a relationship with Fotis Dulos when his wife, Jennifer Dulos, went missing on May 19, 2019. Officials allege that Mr. Dulos murdered his wife in the garage of their home in New Canaan after she had dropped off their children at school, and then attempted to cover up the crime.
Ms. Troconis is under suspicion for assisting him in concealing the crime, but she has denied any participation. Mr. Dulos took his own life in January 2020 after being charged by the police for the murder of his wife.
Ms Dulos’s remains were never located. Ms Troconis was later accused of altering evidence, obstructing justice, and plotting to commit murder.
Officials in the courtroom announced on Thursday that the document displayed by Ms Troconis is confidential and contains sensitive details about Mr Dulos’s five children. Despite the state’s request for the report to remain sealed, the jury was presented with testimony about it this week.
Nevertheless, Ms. Troconis was not authorized to obtain the document. An investigation was initiated to ascertain how she obtained the report and how the individual in the audience identified it.
“The state’s concern is that she would have access to a report on her device which is initially intended for viewing by a member of the audience, but is clearly under seal,” stated Michelle Manning, assistant attorney for the state, during her address to the judge.
“That is worrisome. Another key aspect is that it was publicly displayed with a news camera positioned behind us, and she was unable to even read it initially.”
The judge stated during Friday’s court session that only lawyers would be permitted to use a computer and that the court would not act as a supervisor. The judge also warned that anyone trying to contact the jury or a witness would be ejected from the courtroom.
The proceedings, initiated in January, have spanned 23 days and are projected to carry on into the following week.
Source: independent.co.uk
