Owner of truck linked to Dulos case among hundreds who could testify at Troconis trial
STAMFORD — A former employee of Fotis Dulos has been issued a subpoena to testify in the Michelle Troconis trial in the death and disappearance of Jennifer Dulos.
Pawel Guimenny, who owned a red pickup truck that investigators said was used by Fotis Dulos in a plot to kill his estranged wife, will take the stand against Troconis with an agreement that he will have immunity from any criminal charges.
Guimenny is listed among about 250 people who may be called to testify or whose names could come up during the trial, which begins Thursday.
The trial will hinge on whether Troconis helped her former boyfriend Fotis Dulos carry out a plan to kill his estranged wife in May 2019 and then hide her body. Jennifer Dulos has never been found, but has been presumed dead by police and her family.
Fotis Dulos died by suicide in January 2020 while facing murder, kidnapping and other charges in his estranged wife’s death and disappearance.
Attorney Jon Schoenhorn was hired as Troconis’ attorney weeks after Fotis Dulos died. Schoenhorn has since filed reams of motions, questioning everything from comments or assertions made by Connecticut State Police when they interviewed his client in the days after the disappearance to the cellphone evidence gathered during the investigation.
Troconis has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit murder, tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution charges. Kent Mawhinney, a longtime friend and former attorney for Fotis Dulos, has also pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit murder and also plans to take his case to trial.
Mawhinney is on the prosecution’s list of potential witnesses who may be called to testify against Troconis. Mawhinney’s attorney Jeffrey Kestenband declined to comment. Prosecutors initially said in 2020 that Mawhinney would testify against Troconis if she took her case to trial. But in recent months, the prosecution has only said Mawhinney may be called to testify.
The list of potential witnesses and
people whose names may come up at trial includes Gloria Farber, the mother of Jennifer Dulos who has been caring for her grandchildren since the disappearance.
The list, which was obtained by Hearst Connecticut Media, also includes judges and attorneys who have been involved in the case and the contentious Dulos divorce, as well as friends of Troconis and her family.
Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Michelle Manning’s list of potential witnesses includes dozens of state troopers, police and investigators, two of the Dulos children and their babysitter Lauren Almeida who arrest warrants show told authorities the night of the disappearance that she believed Fotis Dulos may have done something to his estranged wife.
While not everyone on the list will end up testifying, Guimenny has been issued a subpoena to take the stand, his attorney said.
“He’s not happy about it,” his attorney Lindy Urso said. “He just wants to put this behind him and get back to his work and family.”
In 2019, Giumenny was granted informal immunity to testify in the case by former Stamford State’s Attorney and Chief State’s Attorney Richard Colangelo, Urso said. However, he said his client has since received formal immunity when he testifies.
“I don’t think it was necessary because I don’t think he did anything wrong, but it’s nice to have,” said Urso, who is also on the list of potential witnesses.
Colangelo is also on the list of people who potentially could be called to testify. The list of potential witnesses was submitted by Schoenhorn and Manning prior to jury selection to make sure jurors who were chosen didn’t know any of people who may come up during the trial. For instance, although he’s been dead for nearly four years, Fotis Dulos is on Manning’s list. Each side is not required to submit an official list of people who they plan to call to testify, criminal defense attorneys said.
Manning’s list also includes Connecticut Chief Medical Examiner Dr. James Gill, who told investigators Jennifer Dulos likely did not survive the attack without immediate medical attention based on blood spatter found in the garage of her New Canaan home and other evidence, including bloody clothing and zip ties in trash bags that were dumped in Hartford, arrest warrants show.
Norm Pattis, who was Fotis Dulos’ criminal defense attorney, is also on Manning’s list even though he agreed in 2021 to a civil settlement with Farber and her family to not discuss Jennifer Dulos and her disappearance for 40 years after making controversial comments about the case.
Manning’s list also includes representatives from Apple, Google and several cellphone companies. The city of Hartford’s camera surveillance team, which police said provided videos of Fotis Dulos dumping trash bags along Albany Avenue the night of his estranged wife’s disappearance, is also on the prosecution’s list.
Manning also included a friend of Fotis Dulos who police said called his cellphone around the time Jennifer Dulos was attacked in her garage. Federal authorities have also investigated the potential alibi call, which came from the man who was living in Greece, court documents show.
Mawhinney and Troconis were in Fotis Dulos’ home office in Farmington when the call came through, arrest warrants said. The friend has not been charged with any crimes.
Attorney Richard Weinstein, who represents Farber, is on the list, but he said he didn’t know if he, his client or her grandchildren would be called to testify.
“I’m sure the family will be relieved to have this matter finally adjudicated,” Weinstein said last week.