The trial of Ellen Wink: Landlord, ex-Norwalk official accused of killing tenant
Ellen Wink has admitted to killing Kurt Lametta, but the jury will have to determine whether it was murder.
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The murder trial for a former Norwalk official is set to start at Stamford Superior Court Tuesday, over three years after the death of her former tenant. Ellen Wink has admitted to killing Kurt Lametta, but the jury will have to determine whether it was murder.
On Jan. 20, 2022, Norwalk police converged on Nelson Avenue after Winks, the city's Republican deputy registrar, called 911 to report she'd just shot her tenant five times.
"My wife was sitting on our porch, and all the cop cars came up, and they had guns drawn and were running up the hill," said neighbor Blair Fawcett.
Police found Lametta, 54, dead inside 16 Nelson Ave. where he lived. They arrested Wink, his landlord, and charged her with murder.
"I've known Ellen for 20 years, and everyone knows her. I can't believe that it could get to this level," neighbor Mike Graff told News 12 at the scene.
Wink and Lametta had a history of issues after Lametta allegedly stopped paying rent in September 2020 and Wink wanted him out. Court documents show that in the months before Lametta's death, police responded to the address five times. In one instance, Wink was arrested after police said she locked Lametta out of the home and threw away his belongings.
"He didn't deserve this, by far," Lametta's friend, Joey Dimeglio, told reporters outside the courthouse after Wink's arraignment. "It was over eviction. He wasn't leaving. She wanted him out of there, and this is the end result."
According to police reports, Wink told police she fired her gun in self-defense after Lametta came at her. But weeks later, the prosecution revealed it uncovered a graphic video of the encounter from Lametta's phone which dispelled that. Lametta had been secretly recording the confrontation and ended up capturing his own death.
"Around three minutes into the video, she turns to him, fires a gun and starts shooting," Supervisory Assistant State's Attorney Michelle Manning told the court during a hearing on Feb. 16, 2022. "The victim in the video attempts to run away from her, and it's very clear she follows."
That footage led Judge Gary White to increase Wink's bond from $1 million to $2.5 million despite arguments from Wink's attorney, who countered that the clip doesn't tell the whole story.
"The video is upside down and when Mrs. Wink makes statements about people coming after her, there's nothing in the video that demonstrates that's not true. You can't see the victim's arms. You can't see what the victim's doing. You can't see any motions he makes. All you can do is hear," attorney Stephan Seeger responded.
The video was sealed, but court documents described what it shows. The run-in happened after Wink allegedly let herself in to the house to clean out the fridge because she intended to put the home on the market.
"Lametta asked Wink how she thinks she has the right to come into his house without any notice," according to one search warrant. It went on to state, "Just as Wink turns around and appears to walk away from Lametta, two gunshots are heard, and Wink is heard saying, 'You bastard' as she proceeds to walk toward Lametta through the kitchen while firing a handgun at Lametta."
The warrant also said that after the shooting, Wink threw Lametta's phone into the bushes outside the house. Police later recovered it after they heard ringing from there, according to the warrant.
At a hearing in July 2022, Seeger told the court Wink was afraid of Lametta because of threats he'd made to her. Seeger also said he'd uncovered an audio recording of Lametta from another tenant that bolsters Winks claims and "reveals the victim's temper and propensity for violence, antisemitic comments and threats."
"The fear factor in Mrs. Wink's case is important because in the context of a self-defense case, it's very relevant what's going on in her mind," Seeger explained.
Wink remained in custody on a $2.5 million bond until September 2022 when she was released on house arrest after posting a 10% cash bond.
In June 2023, she rejected a plea offer with a 40-year sentence and instead opted to take her chances at trial.
"In terms of a murder case, 40 years is not an unreasonable offer. It's just not one of those cases an offer is relevant because of the nature of the defense," Seeger told News 12.
But in March 2025, a few months before trial, Seeger gave notice that the jury may hear more than just a self-defense theory. He explained they may also go with an extreme emotional disturbance defense or a mental disease or defect claim.
Seeger said it'll ultimately be up to the judge which defenses the jury will be able to consider.
Twelve regular jurors and four alternates were chosen in May to hear the case against Wink. The jury was told the trial is expected to end during the week of June 16.
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