Venezuelan socialite Michelle Troconis arrived at court arm in arm with her father as her murder trial continues on Monday.
Troconis, 49, is accused of helping her late boyfriend Fotis Dulos cover up the murder of his estranged wife Jennifer Dulos at her New Canaan home on May 24, 2019, after dropping off their five children at school.
Her trial began on January 11 at Stamford Superior Court and her sisters, along with their parents Carlos and Marisela, have supported her through every hearing.
Dramatic scenes played out outside the courthouse after Troconis’ final hearing on Friday, when one of her sisters, Claudia, broke down in tears as she made an emotional statement to the media.
A similar situation occurred in court the day before, when Troconis himself began sobbing as prosecutors played police interrogation videos featuring the socialite from the days after Jennifer’s disappearance.
Troconis wore a determined expression as she approached the courthouse, linking arms with her father, a heart surgeon
Venezuelan socialite Michelle Troconis arrived at court arm in arm with her father as her murder trial continues on Monday
Jennifer Dulos (left) disappeared on May 24, 2019 during a divorce from her husband Fotis (right), who was later charged with murder. Fotis committed suicide in January 2020, leaving his new lover Michelle Troconis to stand trial only for allegedly helping him cover up the murder
On Monday, Troconis wore a determined expression as she approached the courthouse, linking arms with her father, a heart surgeon.
Her mother Marisela was also nearby, along with her lawyer Jon Schoenhorn, a mystery man spotted last week, and a second unknown man, both wearing sunglasses, dress jackets and shirts.
Jurors will hear more evidence from retired Connecticut State Police Detective John Kimball and Fotis Dulos’ luxury real estate associate, Pawel Gumienny.
Prosecutors allege Fotis used Gumienny’s red pickup in part of the plot to kill Jennifer, who was 50 when she disappeared.
Fotis was charged with Jennifer’s murder, while Troconis was charged with Fotis was charged with Jennifer’s murder, while his alleged accomplice Troconis was charged with conspiracy to commit murder, tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution.
The Greek luxury real estate developer was involved in bitter divorce and custody proceedings with Jennifer at the time she went missing.
He denied having anything to do with her murder, but committed suicide in January 2020 at the age of 52, leaving Troconis, who has also pleaded not guilty, to face the music alone.
Dramatic scenes played out outside the courthouse after Troconis’ final hearing on Friday, when one of her sisters, Claudia, broke down in tears as she made an emotional statement to the media.
Claudia Troconis broke down in tears outside Stamford Superior Court on Friday
Troconis’ sister Claudia (center, flanked by her parents Marisela and Carlos) cried outside the court
Claudia Troconis insisted her sister Michelle ‘cooperated with police’ in murder case involving missing Connecticut mother of five Jennifer Dulos
“I know everyone wants answers, but my sister is not the right answer, she knows nothing and she is innocent,” Claudia Troconis said as she wiped away tears.
Two mysterious men were also present in court on Monday on day 12 of Troconis’ trial
Several people joined Troconis for her trial at Stamford Superior Court this month, including her family and two mystery men (pictured)
Michelle Troconis (left) and Fotis Dulos (right) were living together in his Farmington CT home at the time of his ex-wife Jennifer’s disappearance on May 24, 2019
Claudia Troconis broke down in tears as she insisted her sister is innocent outside Stamford Superior Court on Friday.
“I want to say something as Michelle’s sister. Apparently this is a very hard day for us too,” she said as she was flanked by her parents.
‘We finally see how my sister tried to cooperate with the police not once, not twice but three times, saying everything and trying to help them as best she could.
“And yet she was charged. And this is more than 10 hours in which my sister says: “I will do everything to help you, I know nothing”.
“I know everyone wants answers, but my sister is not the right answer, she knows nothing and she is innocent.”
Jurors have begun hearing from former Connecticut State Police Detective John Kimball, who oversaw the investigation into Jennifer’s disappearance and questioned Troconis.
They previously heard from several other department detectives who described finding bloodstained items at Jennifer’s New Canaan home, where it is alleged Fotis killed her.
Prosecutors also presented several blood-soaked items, including a bra, long-sleeved shirt, zip ties and razor blades, recovered from several trash bins near Hartford, CT.
Troconis will consult with her attorney Jon Schoenhorn in court on Wednesday
A blood-soaked bra that police recovered from a trash bin that the state alleges Fotis Dulos, with the help of his lover Michelle Troconis, disposed of in
Zip ties covered in blood were also recovered from a local garbage bin
Nanny Lauren Almeida previously said Jennifer was an “incredibly caring mother” to her five children, who were aged between eight and 13 when she disappeared on May 24, 2019
Detective Matthew Reilly said they also found traces of blood in Jennifer’s Chevy Suburban, which were illuminated by a test for blood and other substances called luminol.
Prosecutors allege Fotis brutally attacked Jennifer at her rented property in New Canaan as she returned from the school run for their five children, who were between the ages of eight and 13 at the time, on the morning of May 24, 2019.
The state claims he cleaned up the evidence at her home before putting her body in her Chevy and driving it about three miles away, where it was found abandoned. Jennifer’s body was never found.
Fotis and Troconis are accused of dumping garbage bags containing bloody evidence, including the bra, T-shirt and razor, into several trash bins around Hartford in his Ford Raptor.
Jurors were shown images of each bloodied item, along with some of them present in the courtroom, and surveillance footage of Fotis and Troconis disposing of the items in the Connecticut town.