The man accused of drowning his 9-year-old daughter in Ticonderoga last week was back in court on Wednesday morning, after he was indicted by a grand jury.Top video: Luciano Frattolin leaves the Essex County Courthouse Frattolin appeared in the Essex County Courthouse, where he pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder and concealment of a corpse via his attorney. He had previously pleaded not guilty to those charges in Ticonderoga Town Court after his arrest.The district attorney and Frattolin’s lawyer chose not to comment following the proceedings. But in court, NBC5 learned that Frattolin holds Italian and Ethiopian passports, and has businesses in Ethiopia and Canada. He also had a bid on a $5 million home in Canada and had recently attempted to sell a mining company. Frattolin has residences in both Ethiopia and Canada. Frattolin’s attorney said if released, he would reside with a friend who lives in New York City while under surveillance. The judge ultimately decided that Frattolin be given over to the custody of the Essex County Sheriff’s Office due to the severity of the charges. “I find that remand to the correctional facility is the only way to guarantee his attendance here in court,” Judge Tatiana Coffinger said.Wednesday’s appearance marks the second time Frattolin appeared in court after he entered his initial plea in front of a judge in Ticonderoga. Prosecutors said he is guilty of murdering his 9-year-old daughter, Melina, during a vacation to New York and then claiming she was abducted. Those claims turned out to be false.Court documents allege Frattolin drowned Melina in Ticonderoga on July 19th, and attempted to hide her body in water near a fallen tree and placed a rock on top of her.Frattolin is due back in court on Aug. 19 for a compliance conference.Pretrial hearings will take place in November, with a jury trial scheduled to begin on Jan. 5.
The man accused of drowning his 9-year-old daughter in Ticonderoga last week was back in court on Wednesday morning, after he was indicted by a grand jury.
Top video: Luciano Frattolin leaves the Essex County Courthouse
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Frattolin appeared in the Essex County Courthouse, where he pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder and concealment of a corpse via his attorney. He had previously pleaded not guilty to those charges in Ticonderoga Town Court after his arrest.
The district attorney and Frattolin’s lawyer chose not to comment following the proceedings. But in court, NBC5 learned that Frattolin holds Italian and Ethiopian passports, and has businesses in Ethiopia and Canada. He also had a bid on a $5 million home in Canada and had recently attempted to sell a mining company. Frattolin has residences in both Ethiopia and Canada.
Frattolin’s attorney said if released, he would reside with a friend who lives in New York City while under surveillance. The judge ultimately decided that Frattolin be given over to the custody of the Essex County Sheriff’s Office due to the severity of the charges.
“I find that remand to the correctional facility is the only way to guarantee his attendance here in court,” Judge Tatiana Coffinger said.
Wednesday’s appearance marks the second time Frattolin appeared in court after he entered his initial plea in front of a judge in Ticonderoga. Prosecutors said he is guilty of murdering his 9-year-old daughter, Melina, during a vacation to New York and then claiming she was abducted. Those claims turned out to be false.
Court documents allege Frattolin drowned Melina in Ticonderoga on July 19th, and attempted to hide her body in water near a fallen tree and placed a rock on top of her.
Frattolin is due back in court on Aug. 19 for a compliance conference.
Pretrial hearings will take place in November, with a jury trial scheduled to begin on Jan. 5.
