Community Corner

Guilty Verdict Returned in Hopatcong Murder Trial

Giuseppe Tedesco could face life-plus-20 years in state prison.

Giuseppe Tedesco was found guilty of first-degree murder by jurors Thursday for the shooting death of Alyssa Ruggieri as a six-week trial came to a close, according to New Jersey Herald.

Tedesco, a 27-year-old Hopatcong resident, was also found guilty of possession of a gun and possession of a gun for unlawful purposes. He could face life-plus-20 years in state prison, New Jersey Herald reported.

who was 22 at the time of her death inside a Durban Avenue home on March 27, 2010, began Dec. 4. Ruggieri was shot six times in various places, including in the temple, nose, chin, hand, chest and abdomen. Ruggieri and Tedesco were friends, according to court proceedings. A .25-caliber handgun, allegedly used, was found covered in blood in Tedesco's car the night of the shooting.

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The trial, which was held in Newton, was, at times, heated, particularly when a fight broke out in the courtroom Wednesday afternoon. Earlier in the trial, Tedesco claimed Ruggieri's death was an accident and said the gun that killed her was, at one point, pointed at his own face.

Correction: An earlier version of this story said Tedesco could face up to 20 years in prison.

Find out what's happening in Hopatcong-Spartawith free, real-time updates from Patch.


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