A Denville, NJ man was convicted of stabbing his ex-wife to death in their home.

A jury in Morris County Superior Court in Morristown, NJ deliberated for just three hours before returning a guilty verdict in the high-profile murder case.

The 66-year-old defendant, Anthony Novellino, was accused of attacking his former wife with a large kitchen knife when she returned to the family home to collect her belongings. The ex-couple’s divorce had been finalized 11 days earlier.

Police said that Novellino killed his wife in a fit of rage and stabbed her 84 times. He then allegedly placed a pig’s mask over her face.

According to neighbors, Novellino had expressed concern in the days leading up to the murder about how the ex-couple’s property would be divided during the divorce.

During trial, Novellino’s defense attorney attempted to get a lesser conviction for manslaughter by arguing that his client had acted in the heat of passion. To that end, the attorney unsuccessfully tried to get the pig’s mask ruled inadmissible as evidence in the case. However, during closing arguments, the Morris County prosecutor emphasized the pig’s mask and highlighted testimony showing that Novellino had brought a large kitchen knife into the bathroom to kill the victim.

In addition to finding Novellino guilty of murder, the jury also found him guilty of illegal weapons possession, hindering apprehension, and tampering with evidence.

When Novellino is sentenced on September 12, he will face a minimum of 30 years in New Jersey State Prison. The judge can potentially sentence Novellino to life behind bars.

For more information about this case, check out the NJ.com article entitled “Jury Finds N.J. Man Who Stabbed His Ex-Wife 84 Times Guilty of Murder.”

 

If you are facing murder or homicide charges in New Jersey, contact Morristown NJ criminal defense attorney Travis J. Tormey for a free consultation about your case.