The Hopatcong man charged with the murder of a Hopatcong woman will be in court at 9 a.m. Jan. 23 for a pre-trial conference.

Each of Giuseppe Tedeseco's last two scheduled appearances— in October and November—were postponed.

Tedesco is accused of shooting Alyssa Ruggieri to death in her Durban Avenue home on March 27, 2010. He's also facing weapons charges. Tedesco's attorney, Anthony Iacullo, said Tedesco plans to plead self-defense.

In July, Superior Court Judge N. Peter Conforti denied dismissal of Tedesco's indictment and a bail reduction. Tedesco is being held on $1 million bail with no 10-percent option. Conforti then rattled through the litany of evidence stacked against Tedesco, whose suspected relationship with Ruggieri, according to prosecutors, may have provided motivation for the killing.

Conforti said that the court had three key concerns that prevent any change in bail: a flight risk factor because of the strong evidence, Tedesco's "emotional and psychological history" and concerns about safety if a bail bond is posted.

In February 2010, Tedesco rejected a plea bargain that would allow Tedesco to plead guilty to the murder charge and in exchange face 30 years in prison instead of a possible life sentence.