What happens next in the Fotis Dulos murder trial?

After a roller coaster 24 hours for Fotis Dulos, his legal case and those involved, how will the new developments impact Dulos' prosecution?

News 12 Staff

Jan 30, 2020, 12:44 AM

Updated 1,691 days ago

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After a roller coaster 24 hours for Fotis Dulos, his legal case and those involved, how will the new developments impact Dulos' prosecution?

Fotis Dulos' status has been described as "dire" by his attorney Norm Pattis. Whether he will recover from his suicide attempt by carbon monoxide poisoning is yet to be known.

Fotis Dulos was found unresponsive Tuesday on the day of an emergency bond hearing, where there was a possibility his bail would have been revoked and he would have been sent to jail. He had been on house arrest since posting bond earlier this month on charges of murder, felony murder and kidnapping in his estranged wife's death.

Just days after he tried to kill himself, state police executed a search warrant of Fotis Dulos' home in Farmington. Police have searched this house once before, in the early days of the investigation, but are now presumably looking for clues in connection with the suicide attempt.

Pattis was back in a courtroom in Stamford Wednesday where attorneys from both sides agreed to ask the judge to order Dulos "re-arrested," rather than having his bond revoked. That technicality means Dulos is not in custody, and therefore can see visitors more easily.

Pattis said it's a recognition of how grim his health outlook is.
The bond revocation issue that triggered yesterday's hearing appears to be on hold until Dulos can return to a Connecticut courtroom.
Attorney Matthew Maddox spoke to News 12 about how the case could look going forward. He says if Dulos lives, the key factor will be whether he is competent to stand trial. But that determination brings its own set of legal complications, which could extend the proceedings for months or years.

"When it comes to competency, there is an evaluation, and that evaluation and analysis is an ongoing analysis," says Maddox. "There are ongoing and repeated evaluations ... is this person restorable? Has he been restored?"

Maddox added that despite public speculation, in court the suicide attempt should not imply guilt, but attorneys must consider anything a juror might have heard.

There are still two other defendants -- Dulos' ex-girlfriend and attorney Kent Mahwhinney. Both have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder.

Maddox says if Dulos doesn't recover, it could make it easier for Troconis to come forward with more information, including information about Mawhinney.

Dulos remains under police-watch at Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx. His family members have flown in from Greece to visit.