A Denville, NJ man on trial for allegedly killing his wife has asked to be represented by a new attorney.
Just a month before his murder trial was set to begin, Anthony Novellino requested new legal representation.
The request came two weeks after a Morris County Superior Court judge ruled that the prosecution in the case may use almost all of Novellino’s statements to police and neighbors. According to prosecutors, Novellino told police in recorded interviews that he stabbed his 62-year-old wife to death. However, Novellino apparently said that he stabbed her just twice, not 64 times as police charged. He also said that he stabbed her in self-defense after she pulled a knife on him.
Novellino’s wife was killed on June 19, 2010. She had returned to the couple’s home to pick up her belongings following a contentious divorce. She was a teacher at Morris Catholic High School.
Novellino’s request for an attorney came about because Novellino does not believe his state-appointed representation has enough time to devote to his case.
To learn more about this case, read the NJ.com article entitled “Denville Man Wants New Attorney in 2010 Stabbing Death of Wife.“