Gun Was Pointed at My Face, Accused Killer Says

As the murder trial of Giuseppe Tedesco continued this week, Tedesco told jurors and a prosecutor that the gun used to shoot Alyssa Ruggieri six times to death was, at one point, pointed at his own face.

Tedesco described the series of events leading up to the shooting in a Newton courthouse on Wednesday. According to NJ.com, he told Sussex County Prosecutor Seanna Pappas that Ruggieri had left him several brief text messages before he visited her home, in Hopatcong, and a physical dispute ensued.

Tedesco is on trial for the murder of Ruggieri inside her Durban Avenue home. Ruggieri was shot six times on March 27, 2010, including in the abdomen, chest, hand, chin, nose and temple. A .25-caliber handgun, which was allegedly used in the shooting, was found covered in blood in Tedesco's car the night of the shooting.

Pappas has said during prior court appearances that Tedesco went to Ruggieri's home to confront her for not going out with him to celebrate his birthday. Tedesco told Superior Court Judge Peter Conforti Wednesday that Ruggieri said despite not celebrating Tedesco's birthday with him that night, the two would get togther soon. After he arrived at the home, Tedesco said a series of strange events occurred, including when he said the gun was pointed at his face, and he turned the gun on Ruggieri and shot her in self defense, according to NJ.com.