VERNON, Conn. (AP) — A Connecticut man was convicted of killing his spouse in a case constructed partly on proof offered by her Fitbit tracker.
A jury in Rockville Superior Court docket discovered Richard Dabate, 45, responsible of all three fees — homicide, tampering with proof and making a false assertion to authorities — following a five-week trial and on the second day of deliberations. The homicide cost carries as much as 60 years in jail. He's scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 16.
Connie Dabate, 39, was fatally shot within the couple’s Ellington house two days earlier than Christmas in 2015. Her husband informed police that a big masked man, wearing camouflage and with a voice like actor Vin Diesel, shot her after which tied him up.
Police mentioned data on Connie Dabate’s Fitbit contradicted her husband’s story and confirmed she was shifting round an hour after he mentioned she was killed.
Prosecutor Matthew Gedansky mentioned in his closing argument that Dabate hatched a plan to kill his spouse and stage a house invasion as his life was about to unravel with the start of a kid he was having with one other lady. The Dabates had two sons, ages 6 and 9, on the time of the homicide.
Dabate’s lawyer, Trent LaLima, mentioned an enchantment of the convictions is deliberate.
“I believe we placed on a really sturdy case for why Rick didn't commit this offense,” he mentioned exterior the courthouse after the verdicts have been introduced.
Wayne Rioux, a spokesperson for Connie Dabate’s household, mentioned justice prevailed with the convictions of Richard Dabate.
“The trial was not about Fitbit,” he mentioned. “The trial was in regards to the cold-blooded, deliberate homicide of Connie Margotta Dabate.”
Additionally offered at trial was proof from Dabate’s digital units that contradicted his account of his actions that day. He informed police he had been on his strategy to work when he realized he had forgotten his laptop computer, and when he returned house he discovered the intruder in his home. His telephone knowledge indicated he didn't go away the home all day besides to stroll to the top of the driveway.
On the time he says he was operating from the attacker, he was in the lounge utilizing his pc — wanting up, amongst different issues, the scheduled finish time of the train class his spouse was at.
LaLima questioned the reliability of the information from the Fitbit tracker, saying the units weren't designed with the accuracy wanted for courtroom testimony.
LaLima additionally pointed to unknown DNA that was discovered within the Dabates’ house, together with on the gun that killed Connie, and testimony from a home cleaner, who mentioned they could have seen a darkish inexperienced determine transfer previous the window across the time of the crime.
Court docket marshals handcuffed Dabate and led him out of the courtroom after Choose Corinne Klatt elevated his bond to $5 million. He had been free after posting $1 million bail following his arrest.