Crime & Safety
NJ Cop Pleads Not Guilty To Killing Estranged Wife In Morris Co.
Lt. John Formisano pleaded not guilty to the murder of Christine Solaro Formisano, and the attempted murder of her new boyfriend in court.
JEFFERSON, NJ — A Newark police officer accused of murdering his estranged wife and attempting to murder her boyfriend has pleaded not guilty in Morris County Superior Court.
Lt. John Formisano entered a plea of not guilty at a first appearance in court, six weeks after he was arrested and charged with the murder of Christine Solaro Formisano. He appeared in front of Judge David Ironson via video from an undisclosed treatment center.
Formisano has been in the custody of Department of Human Services since July 15 receiving treatment for an unspecific psychiatric concern. He agreed to remain there pending a trial, waving his right to both a pretrial detention hearing and a probable cause hearing.
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It is unusual for so much time to pass between an arrest and a first hearing under New Jersey's new bail 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. Formisano's hearing was delayed until doctors agreed he was healthy enough to appear.
He denied being under the influence of any medications, or of having any mental conditions that would impair his understanding on Thursday.
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In addition to being charged with his estranged wife's murder, Formisano is also charged with the attempted murder of her boyfriend, identified in court documents only as T.S., and with endangering the welfare of the couple's two young children, who were home at the time of the alleged shooting.
A 24-year veteran of the police force, Formisano was in uniform at the time of the shooting, according to two 911 callers.
The Formisanos were estranged at the time of Solaro Formisano's death; John Formisano had filed for divorce, but it had not yet been finalized. Solaro Formisano's family declined to speak with the press after Wednesday's hearing.
Formisano's next appearance is scheduling for Oct. 7. He will be expected to appear in person at that time.
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