Woman prepared PFA request before she was killed

NORRISTOWN » A Norristown woman was fatally stabbed by her ex-boyfriend a day before she planned to file for a protection from abuse order against the Bridgeport man, prosecutors alleged in court papers.

The PFA application “that had been filled out” was found by Montgomery County detectives in murder victim Donna Marie Donato’s residence in the 300 block of Cherry Street just days after Donato was stabbed to death on Jan. 15, 2018, by James Bruce Puia, prosecutors alleged.

Prosecutors suggested Donato was unable to file the PFA application because the courthouse was closed on Jan. 15 for the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday.

“The application lists, among other facts, that (Puia) has weapons, has made threats by displaying a weapon, has threatened by

following and has engaged in threats or harassment via phone calls,” county Assistant District Attorney Kathleen A. McLaughlin and coprosecutor Roderick Fancher wrote in court papers.

Prosecutors asked a judge to allow them to show the PFA petition to a jury when Puia stands trial on murder charges later this year. They argued the PFA petition is evidence “to show motive, intent, preparation, plan, malice and ill will toward the victim.”

Puia, through his lawyer Carrie L. Allman, is fighting the request.

Puia, of Bridgeport, faces charges of first- and thirddegree murder and possession of an instrument of crime in connection with Donato’s death. Judge William R. Carpenter scheduled Puia’s trial for Oct. 22.

Donato, 62, and Puia, 52, dated for about four months, according to court documents.

In court documents, prosecutors alleged Donato’s relatives, friends and roommates told authorities that Donato was trying to break away from Puia and that “there was a lot of arguing and fighting between the two.” Puia, witnesses told detectives, would “just show up” at places frequented by Donato and that Donato expressed she was afraid of Puia.

One friend told detectives that Donato claimed Puia had threatened to kill her and that he was carrying a knife about two weeks before the murder.

Witnesses told detectives they knew Donato was in the process of applying for a PFA against Puia due to his alleged stalking behavior.

“Furthermore, they all reported that the victim was planning to submit the PFA petition on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018, as a result of the courthouse being closed on Monday, Jan. 15 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. However, she never got the chance to file it because (Puia) killed her on Jan. 15, 2018,” McLaughlin and Fancher wrote in court papers.

Prosecutors maintain the PFA application and testimony of Donato’s friends concerning Puia’s alleged abuse of and stalking the victim is relevant evidence to “paint the full picture of the case for the jury,” adding without it “the killing would have no context and appear random.” Any potential for unfair prejudice to Puia is far outweighed by the probative value of such evidence, prosecutors argued.

“The evidence strongly supports the commonwealth’s contention that the defendant was actively stalking the victim, especially around the final weeks of her life when she was attempting to cut the defendant out of her life,” McLaughlin and Fancher wrote.

But Allman suggested such testimony is hearsay, not relevant and not admissible.

The investigation began when Bridgeport police responded to the DeKalb Street Bridge shortly after 3 p.m. Jan. 15 for a report of an assault taking place and encountered Puia, who had blood on his forehead, cheeks and hands. Puia initially told police he had been in a fistfight with a man in Bridgeport.

However, police learned there was a warrant for Puia for an alleged parole violation. When confronted about the warrant Puia allegedly spontaneously said he wasn’t a “good guy” and that he had just killed a woman on the bridge, according to testimony.

Police discovered Donato’s body on the northbound walkway, or eastern side, of the bridge and because of high barriers it was not visible to passing motorists.

During his statement, according to court documents, Puia told detectives he and Donato had previously dated and that since December 2017 the two had been having problems because there was a new man in Donato’s life.

Puia, according to the criminal complaint, told detectives he encountered Donato at the Bridgeport Wawa and “became emotional” and then followed Donato and attacked her as she walked across the bridge toward her Norristown home. Puia allegedly stated he stabbed Donato in the face, back and multiple times in the heart.

An autopsy determined Donato died as a result of multiple sharp force injuries.

If convicted of first-degree murder Puia faces a mandatory term of life imprisonment. A conviction of third-degree murder carries a possible maximum sentence of 20 to 40 years in prison.

James Puia