Hopatcong Murderer's Sentencing Set for March 20

Nearly three years after shooting Hopatcong’s Alyssa Ruggieri in her home five times and killing her, Giuseppe Tedesco will learn how long he’ll spend in prison for the murder on March 20.

Tedesco was convicted of first-degree murder and possession of a gun and possession of a gun for unlawful purposes on Jan. 10 after a six-week trial. When the verdict was read, .

In legal documents filed by the defense, however, Tedesco is asking not to be present during the sentencing, according to nj.com.

The Ruggieri family, the report says, is asking the court to require Tedesco to be present so their daughter’s killer can “see and hear about the pain that he has caused us all.”

The murder and gun convictions bring with them a possible life-plus-20 years sentencing. The session is currently scheduled for the Superior Court in Newton on Wednesday, March 20.