Man charged with murder of Stamford man

The man accused of killing Marco Paoletta in Stamford back in 2008 is now charged with his murder. Prosecutors say Giovani Rodriquez, 21, shot and killed Paoletta and left him for dead, then torched

News 12 Staff

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Feb 2, 2009, 11:34 PM

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Updated 6,004 days ago

The man accused of killing Marco Paoletta in Stamford back in 2008 is now charged with his murder.

Prosecutors say Giovani Rodriquez, 21, shot and killed Paoletta and left him for dead, then torched his car in Norwalk.

For the first time, Paoletta's family got a close look at the man police and prosecutors say shot and killed him on Vine Road in Stamford.

During the court hearing Monday, Stamford prosecutors argued Rodriguez should stay behind bars.

Police say Rodriguez has a lengthy criminal record including assault and weapons charges and at the time of the killing, he was on probation living in a halfway house.

According to police, Paoletta and Rodriguez did not know each other but police are staying tight lipped as to why the victim gave the suspect a ride and what led to the killing.

The family's spokesman says after seeing Rodriguez, the wound, left by such a deep, painful loss can finally start to heal.

?To see the suspect, that's always important in cases like this,? says private investigator Vito Colucci.

The family will be back in court in about three weeks when Rodriguez's case is moved to the court that handles murder charges.

Rodriguez?s brother was also arraigned in Norwalk Monday in connection with Paoletta?s death. He is facing arson charges after police suspect he helped set fire to the victim's car.