Dulos appears in court for less than 20 seconds
STAMFORD — Fotis Dulos returned to court on Wednesday — for less than a minute.
In his quickest appearance since being charged in his wife’s disappearance, Fotis Dulos was in and out of the Stamford courtroom in less than 20 seconds.
For the second time in as many months, Attorney Norm Pattis did not attend the pretrial hearing.
His associate, attorney Chris La Tronica, who recently joined the defense team, asked for a continuance. The judge continued the case to Jan. 7.
“The only thing I have to say, again, is my only concern are my children,” Fotis Dulos told reporters as he leftthe courthouse. “I care deeply about themandI can’t wait to bewith them again.” Pattis complained this week that the defense has not received most of the evidence the prosecution has against his client in the disappearance of Jennifer Dulos.
The search warrants in the case have also been sealed for another 90 days.
Fotis Dulos, 52, and his former girlfriend, Michelle Troconis, 44, have each pleaded not guilty to two counts of tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution in the May 24 disappearance.
Police have not released updates on the investigation since Judge John Blawie issued a gag order in September. Pattis has filed his 40page appeal of the gag order with the state Supreme Court, claiming it infringes on his client’s right to free speech and to a fair trial.
Appellate attorneys for the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney have until Nov. 12 to file their brief in opposition of the appeal. The court is also allowing the Hartford Courant to file an amicus brief supporting Pattis’ appeal. Arguments in the case will be heard on Dec. 9.
Jennifer Dulos, 51, was last seen on a neighbor’s security camera returning home around 8:05 a.m. May 24 after dropping off her five children at a nearby school.