ELIZABETHTOWN, NY – Luciano Frattolin, accused of murdering his 9-year-old daughter Melina, is considering testifying in his own defense as his trial nears a potential conclusion. The Canadian coffee entrepreneur, 45, told Essex County Court Judge Tatiana Coffinger on Friday that he maintained his innocence and would use the weekend to decide whether to take the stand.
This potential move comes as prosecutors rested their case Friday afternoon after presenting more than two weeks of testimony from law enforcement, experts, and extensive video evidence. The prosecution's case aims to demonstrate that Frattolin killed his daughter, Melina, last summer and disposed of her body in a swampy brook near Ticonderoga. Frattolin had been on a multi-day trip with Melina from Montreal to New York City, a trip during which he was supposed to return her to her mother, who had full custody.
Frattolin has maintained that his daughter was kidnapped at a rest stop. He expressed confidence in his ability to prove this account to the judge. "Yeah, I am innocent," Frattolin stated, though the judge urged him to consult his public defenders before making a final decision, as testifying would open him to cross-examination by the prosecution. "I need more time," he said.