Niner
Long time Websleuther
- Joined
- Aug 18, 2003
- Messages
- 86,137
- Reaction score
- 289,492
Okay thanks - I'll make a note of it - but will keep my eye out on this thread in case you find something later.
GUILTY NY - Joseph Comunale, 26, Manhattan, 12 Nov 2016 - #3
- Thread starter Greater Than
- Start date
Okay thanks - I'll make a note of it - but will keep my eye out on this thread in case you find something later.
Niner
Long time Websleuther
- Joined
- Aug 18, 2003
- Messages
- 86,137
- Reaction score
- 289,492
Jail site shows he'll be in court today.
Friday, October 26th:
*Trial continues (Day 10) (@ 9:30am ET) - NY - Joey Comunale (26) (Nov. 13, 2016, Manhattan) – only for *James Rackover (26) arrested (11-16-16) & indicted on 2nd degree murder & for the alleged strangling, stabbing & dismemberment, concealment of corpse tampering with evidence & hindering prosecution; plead not guilty. $100K bond, $300K cash.
Skipping Day 1 thru 3.
10/18/18 Update: Day 4 – Opening statements. State witnesses: Pat Comunale, Joey’s father & Lt. Donna Morgan, Forensics Bureau of Monmouth Cnty Prosecutor’s Office in New Jersey. Trial continues Monday, 10/22.
10/19/18 Update: Day 5 – State witnesses: Stephen Naso, friend of Joey's. He was with him earlier that night partying at the nightclub. Catherine Conroy, Samantha Guardiola and Jenna Stisi — all went to Rackover's place. Trial continues on Monday, 10/22.
10/22/18 Update: Day 6: State Witnesses: Detective Yeoman Castro. Eduardo Souza, Concierge at Grand Sutton.
10/23/18 Update: Day 7: State Witnesses: NYPD Det. Michelle Gangi. Trial continues to 10/24.
10/24/18 Update: Day 8: Might NOT have court today.
10/25/18 Update: Day 9: No info available yet.
Friday, October 26th:
*Trial continues (Day 10) (@ 9:30am ET) - NY - Joey Comunale (26) (Nov. 13, 2016, Manhattan) – only for *James Rackover (26) arrested (11-16-16) & indicted on 2nd degree murder & for the alleged strangling, stabbing & dismemberment, concealment of corpse tampering with evidence & hindering prosecution; plead not guilty. $100K bond, $300K cash.
Skipping Day 1 thru 3.
10/18/18 Update: Day 4 – Opening statements. State witnesses: Pat Comunale, Joey’s father & Lt. Donna Morgan, Forensics Bureau of Monmouth Cnty Prosecutor’s Office in New Jersey. Trial continues Monday, 10/22.
10/19/18 Update: Day 5 – State witnesses: Stephen Naso, friend of Joey's. He was with him earlier that night partying at the nightclub. Catherine Conroy, Samantha Guardiola and Jenna Stisi — all went to Rackover's place. Trial continues on Monday, 10/22.
10/22/18 Update: Day 6: State Witnesses: Detective Yeoman Castro. Eduardo Souza, Concierge at Grand Sutton.
10/23/18 Update: Day 7: State Witnesses: NYPD Det. Michelle Gangi. Trial continues to 10/24.
10/24/18 Update: Day 8: Might NOT have court today.
10/25/18 Update: Day 9: No info available yet.
YESorNO
The Queen (aka "mrsmuir") SWBB
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2013
- Messages
- 34,377
- Reaction score
- 68,976
Murder suspects allegedly ordered burgers as body lay dead in bathtub
October 25, 2018
"...After killing a young Connecticut man — who’s battered and bloody body lay in the bathtub — James Rackover, 27, and co-defendant Larry Dilione, 30, chowed down on organic burgers and chicken bites, according to prosecutors.
Rackover, who is on trial for the barbaric slaying of Joseph Comunale, allegedly ordered $78.82 worth of food from Bareburger at about 4 p.m on Nov. 13, 2016....
Earlier on Thursday, Det. Daniel Smith told jurors about the blood he found all over Rackover’s apartment, despite the men’s efforts to cover up their crime.
Rackover and Dilione allegedly murdered Comunale, who they had met for the first time that morning, after an argument, which prosecutors suspect was over cocaine.
Dilione will be tried next."
https://nypost.com/2018/10/25/murder-suspects-allegedly-ordered-burgers-as-body-lay-dead-in-bathtub/
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Crime scene cop identifies 'possible' blood stains throughout James Rackover's apartment at his murder trial
OCT 25, 2018
"The killers did a lousy job cleaning up after themselves.
James Rackover’s Upper East Side apartment was chock full of clues that Joseph Comunale had been killed there despite frantic efforts to cover up the evidence, a crime scene detective testified Thursday at Rackover’s murder trial in Manhattan Supreme Court.
NYPD Det. Daniel Smith said blood and telltale signs of a physical altercation appeared to be present throughout Rackover’s one-bedroom pad in a luxury E. 59th St. building near First Ave., where prosecutors say he and pal Lawrence Dilione, 30, fatally beat and stabbed the 26-year-old Hofstra University graduate on Nov. 13, 2016, at the end of a late-night, drug- and booze-fueled gathering....
Earlier in the week, jurors saw a mountain of suspicious items Rackover and Dilione allegedly left in the building’s trash that led cops right to them...."
Crime scene cop identifies 'possible' blood stains throughout James Rackover's apartment at his murder trial - NY Daily News
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
October 25, 2018
"...After killing a young Connecticut man — who’s battered and bloody body lay in the bathtub — James Rackover, 27, and co-defendant Larry Dilione, 30, chowed down on organic burgers and chicken bites, according to prosecutors.
Rackover, who is on trial for the barbaric slaying of Joseph Comunale, allegedly ordered $78.82 worth of food from Bareburger at about 4 p.m on Nov. 13, 2016....
Earlier on Thursday, Det. Daniel Smith told jurors about the blood he found all over Rackover’s apartment, despite the men’s efforts to cover up their crime.
Rackover and Dilione allegedly murdered Comunale, who they had met for the first time that morning, after an argument, which prosecutors suspect was over cocaine.
Dilione will be tried next."
https://nypost.com/2018/10/25/murder-suspects-allegedly-ordered-burgers-as-body-lay-dead-in-bathtub/
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Crime scene cop identifies 'possible' blood stains throughout James Rackover's apartment at his murder trial
OCT 25, 2018
"The killers did a lousy job cleaning up after themselves.
James Rackover’s Upper East Side apartment was chock full of clues that Joseph Comunale had been killed there despite frantic efforts to cover up the evidence, a crime scene detective testified Thursday at Rackover’s murder trial in Manhattan Supreme Court.
NYPD Det. Daniel Smith said blood and telltale signs of a physical altercation appeared to be present throughout Rackover’s one-bedroom pad in a luxury E. 59th St. building near First Ave., where prosecutors say he and pal Lawrence Dilione, 30, fatally beat and stabbed the 26-year-old Hofstra University graduate on Nov. 13, 2016, at the end of a late-night, drug- and booze-fueled gathering....
Earlier in the week, jurors saw a mountain of suspicious items Rackover and Dilione allegedly left in the building’s trash that led cops right to them...."
Crime scene cop identifies 'possible' blood stains throughout James Rackover's apartment at his murder trial - NY Daily News
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Joined
- May 15, 2013
- Messages
- 55,637
- Reaction score
- 192,493
During testimony on Thursday, the prosecution showed a text message exchange between Dilione and Rackover in which they told each other “I love you.”
In one of the texts, one of the two men wrote, “Sometimes I don’t know if you think I’m your guy or not.”
“You’re my guy, don’t worry,” the other responded.
Earlier in the day, Det. Daniel Smith of the New York Police Department crime scene unit, testified about the evidence he gathered at Rackover’s Sutton Place apartment at 418 East 59th Street, where Comunale was murdered.
Later, Det. Patricia Lezcano, of the NYPD latent print unit, testified that fingerprints taken from the home matched those of Rackover and Dilione.
Trial shifts to relationship between men accused of Stamford man’s murder
BBM for Niner
In one of the texts, one of the two men wrote, “Sometimes I don’t know if you think I’m your guy or not.”
“You’re my guy, don’t worry,” the other responded.
Earlier in the day, Det. Daniel Smith of the New York Police Department crime scene unit, testified about the evidence he gathered at Rackover’s Sutton Place apartment at 418 East 59th Street, where Comunale was murdered.
Later, Det. Patricia Lezcano, of the NYPD latent print unit, testified that fingerprints taken from the home matched those of Rackover and Dilione.
Trial shifts to relationship between men accused of Stamford man’s murder
BBM for Niner
YESorNO
The Queen (aka "mrsmuir") SWBB
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2013
- Messages
- 34,377
- Reaction score
- 68,976
Rosanna Scotto’s son to testify in ‘jeweler to the stars’ murder trial
October 26, 2018
"FOX-5 news anchor Rosanna Scotto’s son is expected to take the stand against his ex-pal James Rackover, accused of the grisly murder of a young Connecticut man.
Rackover allegedly made a damning admission to Louis Ruggiero Jr., 24, after killing Joseph Comunale, sources said.
It’s unclear when Ruggiero will testify....
The murder trial continues Monday in Manhattan Supreme Court."
https://nypost.com/2018/10/26/rosanna-scottos-son-to-testify-in-jeweler-to-the-stars-murder-trial/
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
October 26, 2018
"FOX-5 news anchor Rosanna Scotto’s son is expected to take the stand against his ex-pal James Rackover, accused of the grisly murder of a young Connecticut man.
Rackover allegedly made a damning admission to Louis Ruggiero Jr., 24, after killing Joseph Comunale, sources said.
It’s unclear when Ruggiero will testify....
The murder trial continues Monday in Manhattan Supreme Court."
https://nypost.com/2018/10/26/rosanna-scottos-son-to-testify-in-jeweler-to-the-stars-murder-trial/
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YESorNO
The Queen (aka "mrsmuir") SWBB
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2013
- Messages
- 34,377
- Reaction score
- 68,976
Murder suspects ordered $80 lunch including burgers even as bloody victim lay in apartment bathtub
26 Oct 2018
"According to prosecutors, 27-year-old James Rackover and 30-year-old Larry Dilione ordered organic burgers and chicken bites for lunch after killing a young Connecticut man, whose bloody body lay in the bathtub as they ate....
Assistant DA Rachel Ehrhardt read out the Seamless.com invoice for the order on Thursday: “Buffalo chicken bites, beef burger, medium rare, brioche bun, add county bacon…” Aside from the aforementioned items, the duo ordered a second burger, a side of french fries, onion rings, Brussel sprouts, and sriracha pork belly. ..."
Murder suspects ordered $80 lunch including burgers even as bloody victim lay in apartment bathtub
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
26 Oct 2018
"According to prosecutors, 27-year-old James Rackover and 30-year-old Larry Dilione ordered organic burgers and chicken bites for lunch after killing a young Connecticut man, whose bloody body lay in the bathtub as they ate....
Assistant DA Rachel Ehrhardt read out the Seamless.com invoice for the order on Thursday: “Buffalo chicken bites, beef burger, medium rare, brioche bun, add county bacon…” Aside from the aforementioned items, the duo ordered a second burger, a side of french fries, onion rings, Brussel sprouts, and sriracha pork belly. ..."
Murder suspects ordered $80 lunch including burgers even as bloody victim lay in apartment bathtub
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Niner
Long time Websleuther
- Joined
- Aug 18, 2003
- Messages
- 86,137
- Reaction score
- 289,492
Monday, October 29th:
*Trial continues (Day 11) (@ 9:30am ET) - NY - Joey Comunale (26) (Nov. 13, 2016, Manhattan) – only for *James Rackover (26) arrested (11-16-16) & indicted on 2nd degree murder & for the alleged strangling, stabbing & dismemberment, concealment of corpse tampering with evidence & hindering prosecution; plead not guilty. $100K bond, $300K cash.
Skipping over Day 1 thru 8
10/25/18 Update: Day 9: Det. Patricia Lezcano, of the NYPD latent print unit. NYPD Det. Daniel Smith, of the Crime Scene Unit.
10/26/18 Update: Day 10: No info yet.
*Trial continues (Day 11) (@ 9:30am ET) - NY - Joey Comunale (26) (Nov. 13, 2016, Manhattan) – only for *James Rackover (26) arrested (11-16-16) & indicted on 2nd degree murder & for the alleged strangling, stabbing & dismemberment, concealment of corpse tampering with evidence & hindering prosecution; plead not guilty. $100K bond, $300K cash.
Skipping over Day 1 thru 8
10/25/18 Update: Day 9: Det. Patricia Lezcano, of the NYPD latent print unit. NYPD Det. Daniel Smith, of the Crime Scene Unit.
10/26/18 Update: Day 10: No info yet.
- Joined
- May 15, 2013
- Messages
- 55,637
- Reaction score
- 192,493
The son of Good Day New York anchor Rosanna Scotto is set to testify against his former friend James Rackover in his murder trial. Rackover allegedly confessed to killing Joseph Communale in 2016 to Louis Ruggiero, 24, in 2016.
On Friday, jurors were shown photos of Rackover and Ruggiero posing shirtless together in pictures taken from Rackover's cellphone - attempting to establish a close relationship between the two men before Scotto's son takes the witness stand.
Dilione's murder trial is expected to begin in January.
Rackover's trial is set to resume on Monday.
Anchor Rosanna Scotto's son, 24, is set to testify in James Rackover's murder trial | Daily Mail Online
On Friday, jurors were shown photos of Rackover and Ruggiero posing shirtless together in pictures taken from Rackover's cellphone - attempting to establish a close relationship between the two men before Scotto's son takes the witness stand.
Dilione's murder trial is expected to begin in January.
Rackover's trial is set to resume on Monday.
Anchor Rosanna Scotto's son, 24, is set to testify in James Rackover's murder trial | Daily Mail Online
Niner
Long time Websleuther
- Joined
- Aug 18, 2003
- Messages
- 86,137
- Reaction score
- 289,492
Tuesday, October 30th:
*Trial continues (Day 12) (@ 9:30am ET) - NY - Joey Comunale (26) (Nov. 13, 2016, Manhattan) – only for *James Rackover (26) arrested (11-16-16) & indicted on 2nd degree murder & for the alleged strangling, stabbing & dismemberment, concealment of corpse tampering with evidence & hindering prosecution; plead not guilty. $100K bond, $300K cash.
Skipping Day 1 thru 8.
10/25/18 Update: Day 9: Det. Patricia Lezcano, of the NYPD latent print unit. NYPD Det. Daniel Smith, of the Crime Scene Unit.
10/26/18 Update: Day 10: No info yet.
10/29/18 Update: Day 11: No info yet.
Accomplices:
*Lawrence R. Dilione (28) arrested (11-16-16) & indicted on 2nd degree murder & for the alleged strangling, stabbing & dismemberment, concealment of corpse & tampering with evidence; plead not guilty; $3M bond, $300K Cash only. Will be tried after Rackover. Had hearing on 10/9. Next hearing 1/14/19.
*Max Gemma (29) arrested (12-6-16) & indicted of allegedly helping clean up after the fact, hindering prosecution & tampering with evidence; plead not guilty. $200K bond, out on bail. Had hearing on 10/9. Next hearing 1/14/19.
4/23/18: Manhattan Supreme Court Justice James Burke severed the cases against murder suspects James Rackover, 26, of New York, & Lawrence Dilione, 29, of Jersey City, N.J., Monday afternoon. Rackover will be the first to go to trial beginning Sept. 24, after which a trial date will be set for Dilione. A third defendant, Max Gemma, 30, of Oceanport, N.J., who is charged with hindering prosecution & tampering with evidence for allegedly misleading police during their investigation, is expected to go to trial last.
*Trial continues (Day 12) (@ 9:30am ET) - NY - Joey Comunale (26) (Nov. 13, 2016, Manhattan) – only for *James Rackover (26) arrested (11-16-16) & indicted on 2nd degree murder & for the alleged strangling, stabbing & dismemberment, concealment of corpse tampering with evidence & hindering prosecution; plead not guilty. $100K bond, $300K cash.
Skipping Day 1 thru 8.
10/25/18 Update: Day 9: Det. Patricia Lezcano, of the NYPD latent print unit. NYPD Det. Daniel Smith, of the Crime Scene Unit.
10/26/18 Update: Day 10: No info yet.
10/29/18 Update: Day 11: No info yet.
Accomplices:
*Lawrence R. Dilione (28) arrested (11-16-16) & indicted on 2nd degree murder & for the alleged strangling, stabbing & dismemberment, concealment of corpse & tampering with evidence; plead not guilty; $3M bond, $300K Cash only. Will be tried after Rackover. Had hearing on 10/9. Next hearing 1/14/19.
*Max Gemma (29) arrested (12-6-16) & indicted of allegedly helping clean up after the fact, hindering prosecution & tampering with evidence; plead not guilty. $200K bond, out on bail. Had hearing on 10/9. Next hearing 1/14/19.
4/23/18: Manhattan Supreme Court Justice James Burke severed the cases against murder suspects James Rackover, 26, of New York, & Lawrence Dilione, 29, of Jersey City, N.J., Monday afternoon. Rackover will be the first to go to trial beginning Sept. 24, after which a trial date will be set for Dilione. A third defendant, Max Gemma, 30, of Oceanport, N.J., who is charged with hindering prosecution & tampering with evidence for allegedly misleading police during their investigation, is expected to go to trial last.
- Joined
- May 15, 2013
- Messages
- 55,637
- Reaction score
- 192,493
Rosanna Scotto’s son accused of romps with prostitutes during pal’s murder trial
Louis Ruggiero, the son of the popular Fox 5 anchor, testified that defendant James Rackover confessed to the grisly Nov. 13, 2016, slaying of Comunale.
On cross-examination, a defense lawyer asked about an illegal betting book the two men bought and lost money on.
Assistant DA said the younger Rackover demanded that Ruggiero take full responsibility for the financial losses on the venture, otherwise he’d show his girlfriend the graphic videos recorded in the bedroom of his adoptive father, Jeffrey Rackover.
Rackover said he’d show his girlfriend “all of the prostitution photographs and video of the two of them engaging in sexual activity with prostitutes.” The Assistant DS did not say whether the elder Rackover was present during the trysts.
The Assistant DA said the elder Rackover had a recording device set up in the bedroom of the Grand Sutton apartment.
Ruggiero said Rackover told him that he and co-defendant Larry Dilione, who is being tried separately, beat up Comunale.
Louis Ruggiero, the son of the popular Fox 5 anchor, testified that defendant James Rackover confessed to the grisly Nov. 13, 2016, slaying of Comunale.
On cross-examination, a defense lawyer asked about an illegal betting book the two men bought and lost money on.
Assistant DA said the younger Rackover demanded that Ruggiero take full responsibility for the financial losses on the venture, otherwise he’d show his girlfriend the graphic videos recorded in the bedroom of his adoptive father, Jeffrey Rackover.
Rackover said he’d show his girlfriend “all of the prostitution photographs and video of the two of them engaging in sexual activity with prostitutes.” The Assistant DS did not say whether the elder Rackover was present during the trysts.
The Assistant DA said the elder Rackover had a recording device set up in the bedroom of the Grand Sutton apartment.
Ruggiero said Rackover told him that he and co-defendant Larry Dilione, who is being tried separately, beat up Comunale.
Last edited:
MistyWaters
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2017
- Messages
- 12,003
- Reaction score
- 67,218
“Defense lawyers Maurice Sercarz and Robert Caliendo put on a single witness and then rested their case.
Summations are expected Thursday morning...”
https://nypost.com/2018/10/30/suspe...cant-bear-to-look-at-photos-of-murder-victim/
Summations are expected Thursday morning...”
https://nypost.com/2018/10/30/suspe...cant-bear-to-look-at-photos-of-murder-victim/
Niner
Long time Websleuther
- Joined
- Aug 18, 2003
- Messages
- 86,137
- Reaction score
- 289,492
Wednesday, October 31st:
*Trial continues (Day 13)-No Trial Today! (@ 9:30am ET) - NY - Joey Comunale (26) (Nov. 13, 2016, Manhattan) – only for *James Rackover (26) arrested (11-16-16) & indicted on 2nd degree murder & for the alleged strangling, stabbing & dismemberment, concealment of corpse tampering with evidence & hindering prosecution; plead not guilty. $100K bond, $300K cash.
Skipping over Day 1 thru 9
10/26/18 Update: Day 10: No info yet.
10/29/18 Update: Day 11: State witness: Louis Ruggiero, friend of Rackover.
10/30/18 Update: Day 12: State Witness: Assistant Medical Examiner Alex Zhang. After the assistant medical examiner left the stand, prosecutors ended their case with a recorded call Rackover made from jail to an unspecified woman. Defense put on a single witness (??) and then rested their case. Summations are expected Thursday morning (11/1).
*Trial continues (Day 13)-No Trial Today! (@ 9:30am ET) - NY - Joey Comunale (26) (Nov. 13, 2016, Manhattan) – only for *James Rackover (26) arrested (11-16-16) & indicted on 2nd degree murder & for the alleged strangling, stabbing & dismemberment, concealment of corpse tampering with evidence & hindering prosecution; plead not guilty. $100K bond, $300K cash.
Skipping over Day 1 thru 9
10/26/18 Update: Day 10: No info yet.
10/29/18 Update: Day 11: State witness: Louis Ruggiero, friend of Rackover.
10/30/18 Update: Day 12: State Witness: Assistant Medical Examiner Alex Zhang. After the assistant medical examiner left the stand, prosecutors ended their case with a recorded call Rackover made from jail to an unspecified woman. Defense put on a single witness (??) and then rested their case. Summations are expected Thursday morning (11/1).
Niner
Long time Websleuther
- Joined
- Aug 18, 2003
- Messages
- 86,137
- Reaction score
- 289,492
Thursday, November 1st:
*Trial continues (Day 13)-Closing Arguments (@ 9:30am ET) - NY - Joey Comunale (26) (Nov. 13, 2016, Manhattan) – only for *James Rackover (26) arrested (11-16-16) & indicted on 2nd degree murder & for the alleged strangling, stabbing & dismemberment, concealment of corpse tampering with evidence & hindering prosecution; plead not guilty. $100K bond, $300K cash.
Skipping over Day 1 thru 11
10/30/18 Update: Day 12: State Witness: Assistant Medical Examiner Alex Zhang. After the assistant medical examiner left the stand, prosecutors ended their case with a recorded call Rackover made from jail to an unspecified woman. Defense put on a single witness (??) and then rested their case. Summations are expected Thursday morning (11/1).
Accomplices:
*Lawrence R. Dilione (28) arrested (11-16-16) & indicted on 2nd degree murder & for the alleged strangling, stabbing & dismemberment, concealment of corpse & tampering with evidence; plead not guilty; $3M bond, $300K Cash only. Will be tried after Rackover. Had hearing on 10/9. Next hearing 1/14/19.
*Max Gemma (29) arrested (12-6-16) & indicted of allegedly helping clean up after the fact, hindering prosecution & tampering with evidence; plead not guilty. $200K bond, out on bail. Had hearing on 10/9. Next hearing 1/14/19.
4/23/18: Manhattan Supreme Court Justice James Burke severed the cases against murder suspects James Rackover, 26, of New York, & Lawrence Dilione, 29, of Jersey City, N.J., Monday afternoon. Rackover will be the first to go to trial beginning Sept. 24, after which a trial date will be set for Dilione. A third defendant, Max Gemma, 30, of Oceanport, N.J., who is charged with hindering prosecution & tampering with evidence for allegedly misleading police during their investigation, is expected to go to trial last.
*Trial continues (Day 13)-Closing Arguments (@ 9:30am ET) - NY - Joey Comunale (26) (Nov. 13, 2016, Manhattan) – only for *James Rackover (26) arrested (11-16-16) & indicted on 2nd degree murder & for the alleged strangling, stabbing & dismemberment, concealment of corpse tampering with evidence & hindering prosecution; plead not guilty. $100K bond, $300K cash.
Skipping over Day 1 thru 11
10/30/18 Update: Day 12: State Witness: Assistant Medical Examiner Alex Zhang. After the assistant medical examiner left the stand, prosecutors ended their case with a recorded call Rackover made from jail to an unspecified woman. Defense put on a single witness (??) and then rested their case. Summations are expected Thursday morning (11/1).
Accomplices:
*Lawrence R. Dilione (28) arrested (11-16-16) & indicted on 2nd degree murder & for the alleged strangling, stabbing & dismemberment, concealment of corpse & tampering with evidence; plead not guilty; $3M bond, $300K Cash only. Will be tried after Rackover. Had hearing on 10/9. Next hearing 1/14/19.
*Max Gemma (29) arrested (12-6-16) & indicted of allegedly helping clean up after the fact, hindering prosecution & tampering with evidence; plead not guilty. $200K bond, out on bail. Had hearing on 10/9. Next hearing 1/14/19.
4/23/18: Manhattan Supreme Court Justice James Burke severed the cases against murder suspects James Rackover, 26, of New York, & Lawrence Dilione, 29, of Jersey City, N.J., Monday afternoon. Rackover will be the first to go to trial beginning Sept. 24, after which a trial date will be set for Dilione. A third defendant, Max Gemma, 30, of Oceanport, N.J., who is charged with hindering prosecution & tampering with evidence for allegedly misleading police during their investigation, is expected to go to trial last.
- Joined
- May 15, 2013
- Messages
- 55,637
- Reaction score
- 192,493
From Tuesday:
James Rackover refused to look at horrific images showing the charred corpse of his alleged victim in court. Rackover covered his face with a white handkerchief to avoid looking at autopsy photographs of Comunale's body in court on Tuesday.
Jurors expressed shock at the images, some glancing at Rackover – who hid his face with the handkerchief or scribbled notes in a bid to avoid the screen. They were so gruesome that Comunale's father, who has attended every day of the trial so far, left the room.
Tuesday's evidence ended with a recorded call Rackover made to a woman from jail. 'They're going to be like, yo, this kid just *advertiser censored***** beat this sh** like Rocky and he's home,' Rackover said during the call.
James Rackover covers eyes as his murder trial is shown grisly pics | Daily Mail Online
James Rackover refused to look at horrific images showing the charred corpse of his alleged victim in court. Rackover covered his face with a white handkerchief to avoid looking at autopsy photographs of Comunale's body in court on Tuesday.
Jurors expressed shock at the images, some glancing at Rackover – who hid his face with the handkerchief or scribbled notes in a bid to avoid the screen. They were so gruesome that Comunale's father, who has attended every day of the trial so far, left the room.
Tuesday's evidence ended with a recorded call Rackover made to a woman from jail. 'They're going to be like, yo, this kid just *advertiser censored***** beat this sh** like Rocky and he's home,' Rackover said during the call.
James Rackover covers eyes as his murder trial is shown grisly pics | Daily Mail Online
gremlingrrl
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2016
- Messages
- 203
- Reaction score
- 299
James Rackover was 'all in' participant in grisly death of 26-year-old Connecticut man: DA
By SHAYNA JACOBS
NOV 01, 2018 | 12:25 PM
The “surrogate son” of a celebrity diamond dealer was a full participant in the thrashing and knifing death of a 26-year-old Connecticut man in an Upper East Side luxury apartment in 2016, prosecutors argued Thursday.
James Rackover, 27, who is on trial for Joseph (Joey) Comunale’s murder, did more than clean and cover-up the crime as his defense team argued at trial, the Manhattan DA said in summations after a two-week emotional trial in Manhattan Supreme Court.
Both Rackover and co-defendant Lawrence (Larry) Dilione, 30, who will be tried separately, are fully responsible for the Nov. 13, 2016, murder, prosecutors said.
“They took extraordinary lengths to get Mr. Comunale out of that apartment and I submit you would not do that unless you were all in,” Assistant District Attorney Antoinette Carter told jurors.
...
Both men, she argued, are culpable for Comunale’s tragic end in spite of Rackover’s claim that he only partook in the second act — the disposal of the body and sanitation of his E. 59th St. apartment, the scene of the crime.
“It doesn’t matter who did what or who did more,” Carter added.
...
Carter used the graphic image to support her claim that there were two “constellations” of knife wounds — a set of nine on his right chest and six in the center.
She said it is proof that both men stabbed Comunale.
“We don’t know who was doing which — we don’t have to know that,” she argued. “What matters is they were doing it together and there’s nothing in the medical evidence that contradicts that."
.....
Deliberations are expected to begin Thursday afternoon.
(BBM)
James Rackover was 'all in' participant in grisly death of 26-year-old Connecticut man: DA - NY Daily News
By SHAYNA JACOBS
NOV 01, 2018 | 12:25 PM
The “surrogate son” of a celebrity diamond dealer was a full participant in the thrashing and knifing death of a 26-year-old Connecticut man in an Upper East Side luxury apartment in 2016, prosecutors argued Thursday.
James Rackover, 27, who is on trial for Joseph (Joey) Comunale’s murder, did more than clean and cover-up the crime as his defense team argued at trial, the Manhattan DA said in summations after a two-week emotional trial in Manhattan Supreme Court.
Both Rackover and co-defendant Lawrence (Larry) Dilione, 30, who will be tried separately, are fully responsible for the Nov. 13, 2016, murder, prosecutors said.
“They took extraordinary lengths to get Mr. Comunale out of that apartment and I submit you would not do that unless you were all in,” Assistant District Attorney Antoinette Carter told jurors.
...
Both men, she argued, are culpable for Comunale’s tragic end in spite of Rackover’s claim that he only partook in the second act — the disposal of the body and sanitation of his E. 59th St. apartment, the scene of the crime.
“It doesn’t matter who did what or who did more,” Carter added.
...
Carter used the graphic image to support her claim that there were two “constellations” of knife wounds — a set of nine on his right chest and six in the center.
She said it is proof that both men stabbed Comunale.
“We don’t know who was doing which — we don’t have to know that,” she argued. “What matters is they were doing it together and there’s nothing in the medical evidence that contradicts that."
.....
Deliberations are expected to begin Thursday afternoon.
(BBM)
James Rackover was 'all in' participant in grisly death of 26-year-old Connecticut man: DA - NY Daily News
Inthedetails
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jul 15, 2014
- Messages
- 25,324
- Reaction score
- 153,917
delete. let me try again
Last edited: