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Judge rules Michelle Troconis will not have ankle monitor removed; co-defendant set to be witness in Dulos case

Michelle Troconis, a defendant in the Jennifer Dulos case, will not have her GPS ankle monitor removed - and her co-defendant is set to be a witness for the prosecution.

News 12 Staff

Feb 2, 2021, 10:55 PM

Updated 1,405 days ago

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Michelle Troconis, a defendant in the Jennifer Dulos case, will not have her GPS ankle monitor removed - and her co-defendant is set to be a witness for the prosecution.
A virtual court hearing for Troconis revealed her co-defendant, Kent Mawhinney, will likely testify against her when Troconis goes on trial.
"As of now, yes. Obviously that can change," says Assistant State’s Attorney Daniel Cummings.
Mawhinney and Troconis are both accused of conspiracy to commit murder in the disappearance and presumed death of Jennifer Dulos - the estranged wife of Troconis' former boyfriend, Fotis Dulos.
Fotis Dulos killed himself a few weeks after being charged with her murder.
"What Kimball wrote in those warrants is mostly theory, speculation. It might be evidence against Mr. Dulos if he was still a defendant in the case," says Troconis' attorney, Jon Schoenhorn.
He maintained the entire case against his client rests on Mawhinney, who was in custody until October when his bond was reduced after meeting with state police.
Schoenhorn says he still hasn't been told if Mawhinney made a deal.
"Did Mr. Mawhinney sing for his supper, to use an old phrase, and that's why he got out?" he says.
"Attorney Mawhinney's statement is one piece out of many pieces pointing to the defendant's guilt in this case that the state may be put on at trial," says Cummings.
Troconis is also charged with evidence tampering and hindering prosecution. Cummings argued all the charges should be consolidated for one trial.
"A joint trial would ameliorate the need to put on the same witnesses repeatedly, to tie up judicial staff, it would expedite justice," he says.
Schoenhorn countered that the motion is premature since he's filed to move two of the cases to the Hartford Judicial District.
The judge made no decision Tuesday on jurisdiction or combining the cases, but he did rule Troconis will keep her GPS ankle monitor while out on bond.
"I'm going to deny your motion because I'm not hearing it substantially interferes with her ability to make a living, it's recreational activity - granted it's important for her daughter - but I'm not hearing compelling reasons to revisit the non-financial conditions," said Judge John Blawie.
The judge did say he'd be open to switching her ankle monitor to a wrist bracelet if that technology is available.