The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Manfredonia waives probable cause hearing
Peter Manfredonia — a University of Connecticut student accused of a string of crimes including two homicides, a home invasion and kidnapping — entered a not-guilty plea during a court appearance Wednesday.
Manfredonia’s defense attorney, Michael Dolan, said after his client’s arrest that he would plead not guilty to the charges. He also had Manfredonia placed on suicide and mental health watch while he is held in jail.
During the court appearance on charges of murder, attempted murder, firstdegree assault, home invasion, kidnapping and other offenses related to the crimes police say he committed in Willington, Manfredonia opted for a jury trail.
“He does wish to waive his probable cause hearing,” Dolan said on his client’s behalf.
The judge confirmed Manfredonia’s decision in a series of mandatory questions linked to the hearing to ensure he understood his choice.
During that questioning, Manfredonia mostly responded with “yes, your honor” and “no, your honor.”
Manfredonia also told the judge during the questioning that prior to his arrest he “was a senior in college ... I was studying management and engineering for manufacturing.”
Dolan confirmed to the judge that waiving the hearing was for “strategic reasons.”
A probable cause hearing must be held within 60 days of a person being charged.
During the hearing, the state must prove there is probable cause “to believe that a murder has been committed and that you committed it,” the judge told
Manfredonia. He told the judge he understood his decision and still opted to waive the hearing.
Manfredonia’s next court appearance has been scheduled for Oct. 2.
The charges Manfredonia pleaded not guilty to Wednesday were linked to violence that started in Willington on May 22.
After a six-day manhunt that spanned several states, law enforcement took Manfredonia into custody on May 27 in Hagerstown, Md.