Manslaughter Trial Goes to Jury Driver Accused of DUI in East Hanover Death
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DAILYRECORD.COM THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2016 $1.50 Who is the All Daily Record Coach of the Season? Staff and readers’ choices. In Sports Dover Antique Center is a ‘fountain of youth.’ In Good Life, 1B Manslaughter trial goes to jury Driver accused of DUI in East Hanover death ASSOCIATED PRESS “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” star Teresa Giudice and her husband, Giuseppe “Joe” Giudice of Montville, are shown in 2014 file photo. Husband of ‘Housewives’ star reports to prison Giudice to be deported PHOTOS BY BOB KARP/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER after finishing sentence A tear runs down the cheek of Vanessa Brown during defense attorney Edward Bilinkas’ closing arguments in Brown’s aggravated manslaughter trial in State Superior Court, Morris County. Brown is charged with killing Ralph Politi. ASSOCIATED PRESS FORT DIX - Joe Giudice, the Montville resident PEGGY WRIGHT @PEGGYWRIGHTDR and husband of “Real Housewives of New Jersey” star Teresa Giudice, reported to prison Wednesday to MORRISTOWN - An emotional begin a 41-month sentence on fraud charges. defense attorney Wednesday ridi- The couple pleaded guilty in 2014 to bankruptcy culed the evidence and implored a fraud, and Joe Giudice pleaded guilty to not paying Morris County jury to acquit Vanes- about $200,000 in taxes. sa E. Brown while a calm assistant Joe Giudice reported to Fort Dix’s federal prison prosecutor advised using “reason, around noon Wednesday, according to family attorney not emotion” in deciding whether the James Leonard. He was escorted to the prison by his alleged drunken driver recklessly wife, brother, sister and others. killed Ralph Politi Jr. in East Hano- “It was obviously a very emotional day, but this is a ver. very strong family with a tremendous support sys- “End this madness,” defense law- tem, and they will get through this, just as they did yer Edward Bilinkas said at the end when Teresa was away,” Leonard said in a statement. of a two-hour closing trial statement in State Superior Court. “End this See PRISON, Page 2A nightmare. Free Vanessa Brown!” Assistant Prosecutor John McNamara Jr.’s subdued demeanor in his two-hour summation sharply contrasted with Bilinkas’ tone, and he made a few self-deprecating com- ments about being part of a “conspir- Demolition of acy” to demonize and convict Brown, See TRIAL, Page 2A ex-school begins “This case is riddled with in Madison reasonable doubt.” WILLIAM WESTHOVEN @WWESTHOVEN EDWARD BILINKAS DEFENSE LAWYER FOR VANESSA E. BROWN Defense attorney Edward Bilinkas finishes up his closing argument in MADISON - The long-awaited demolition of the the aggravated manslaughter trial of Vanessa Brown in State Superior former Green Village Road School is underway as Court, Morris County. contractors clear the 5-acre property near downtown for construction of a new mixed-use complex. “The demolition is on schedule to be completed the first week of April, with construction to begin imme- diately after that,” Borough Administrator Raymond Codey said Wednesday. “We are expecting a construc- tion cycle of about one year to 16 months, so residents Randolph mayor should see a lot of activity in the area.” The construction plans include 100 luxury-rental answers girl’s letter residences, 35 condominiums, a retail space for a farm-to-table restaurant, an underground parking ga- rage, a 16,000-square-foot “public realm” outdoor on litter, speeding space and a new community center for theater, cultur- al and community events. MICHAEL IZZO @MIZZODR The KRE Group and Mark Built Homes announced the purchase of the property in January. The KRE RANDOLPH - An 8-year-old Center Grove Elemen- Group first announced plans to acquire it in 2014. tary School student was tired of seeing litter near her “A property of this size, less than two blocks from a bus stop and being fearful of speeding cars as they train station with direct service to Manhattan, has passed. enormous potential,” said Jonathan Kushner, presi- “We picked up three bags of garbage in our yard the other day,” said Lena Kristoff, mother of Kira, 8, and See SCHOOL, Page 7A Maya, 10. “And the other day when getting off the bus, a neighbor a few houses down almost got hit by a car. We don’t even like to cross the road.” So Kira Kristoff decided to take matters into her own hands, writing the mayor to ask that the issues be ADVICE..........................................10A addressed. CLASSIFIED......................................9B “Because the mayor fixes everything,” Kira said, COMICS..........................................11A adding she decided enough was enough after hearing WARREN WESTURA/CORRESPONDENT OBITUARIES...................................4A loud noise from passing cars while in her bedroom. Randolph Police Officer Richard Biase watches with Maya OPINION.........................................9A Kristoff, 10, as Maya’s sister Kira, 8, uses a radar gun to clock SPORTS............................................4B See GIRL, Page 6A motorists on Franklin Road in Randolph. TV...................................................13A.