BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – The man accused of brutally killing his wife during an anniversary trip to Vermont was back in court on Monday.
Prosecutors say Joseph Ferlazzo killed his wife, Emily, after an argument and then dismembered her body. They call it an intentional killing that Ferlazzo took days to cover it up.
Ferlazzo’s attornies say he was acting in self-defense.
The trial resumed on Monday with a recorded confession video.
Vt. State Police Det. Sgt. James Vooris: Why didn’t you just leave the bus? If the physical altercation of her hitting you is done, how come you just didn’t leave?
Joseph Ferlazzo: Something in my mind told me that it wasn’t going to stop.
Whether Ferlazzo did it is not in question, but the state is trying to convince the jury that Emily was no danger to his safety.
Chittenden County State’s Attorney Sarah George: Did he tell you that Emily possessed or used a gun at any point?
Det. Sgt. James Vooris: No he did not.
The defense attempted to poke holes in the theory and discredit the police interview, pointing to the fact that Joseph Ferlazzo stated multiple times he was not mentally prepared to answer questions and that police ignored his requests for help.
Defense Attorney Margaret Jansch: He did say to you, however, ‘I didn’t eat much and I have been up for days.’ Correct?
Det. Sgt. James Vooris: I believe at some point he did say that.
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Defense Attorney Margaret Jansch: He never did talk with any mental health-type person after he was processed did he?
Retired Vt. State Police Det. Samuel Truex: I don’t know if he did.
The day ended with Amy Nolan, a retired detective with the Vermont State Police crime scene search team, on the stand. She described running into Ferlazzo at a Maplefields in St. Albans while the search was just beginning for him.
“His body language kind of deflated and he said, ‘No, I am not OK,” Nolan said.
Witness testimony will continue on Tuesday.