Cop Accused Of Murdering Wife To Appear In Morris Co. Court

JEFFERSON, NJ — A Newark police officer accused of murdering his wife will make his first appearance in Morris County Superior Court on Wednesday, a spokesman for the prosecutor's office said.

Lt. John Formisano, from Jefferson, will make his first appearance via video Wednesday afternoon, in front of Judge David Ironson. He is accused of shooting his estranged wife, Christine Solaro Formisano, to death outside the couple's Oak Ridge home on July 14.

It's not typical for a defendant to wait so long to make a first appearance; it's been over six weeks since Formisano was arrested in Livingston. Under New Jersey's new bail reform laws, most defendants must appear in front of a judge within a few days of arrest for a pretrial detention hearing to decide if they should stay in jail or be released ahead of a trial.

His lawyer told NJ.com that he was being held in a psychiatric facility in Boonton. An affidavit of probable cause says Formisano displayed suicidal tendencies the night he was arrested.

"The defense greatly appreciates the efforts of the facility where John is receiving treatment and the court to allow John to appear via video screen. While this is only an initial appearance on the charges and John has advised his doctors that he was up to proceeding in such fashion, there are always concerns about the effect this may have on his treatment he has already received," Formisano's lawyer, Anthony Iacullo, said in a statement sent to NJ.com. Iacullo has not returned Patch's request for comment.

Formisano is charged with murder, attempted murder, and endangering the welfare of a child. The Formisano's two children were home at the time of the shooting, police have said.

Read More:

• 'Black Out:' Chilling Details In NJ Cop's Alleged Murder Of Wife
• Support For Family After NJ Cop's Alleged Murder Of Wife
• 'Forever Loved': Slain Jefferson Woman Remembered By Family
• NJ Cop Was In Uniform During Alleged Murder Of Wife: 911 Calls

Editor's note: If you or someone you know is struggling with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233 or TTY 1−800−787−3224.