DiGirolamo's friend pleads not guilty for evidence tampering
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - April 4, 2008 John A. Russo Jr. of Staten Island was released on his own
recognizance.
Russo is a friend of the man charged with killing Amy Giordano.
The 27-year-old single mom vanished after shopping for groceries
with her married lover and their toddler.
The lover, Rosario DiGirolamo, is being held on $1 million bail
on a murder charge. His attorney has said DiGirolamo denies any
involvement in the disappearance of Giordano.
In court Friday, prosecutors said Russo helped clean up
Giordano's apartment after she was beaten to death and dismembered.
They also said he met DiGirolamo at the Staten Island pond where
skeletal remains were found inside a suitcase.
Russo's lawyer says information from his client led detectives
to the pond.
Authorities are awaiting DNA results to identify the remains.
Prosecutors say they are confident the neck-to-torso skeleton is
Giordano because pictures of baby Michael DiGirolamo were found
inside a nearby suitcase in the knee-deep pond.
During his 10-minute arraignment on Friday, Russo, 43, responded
to the judge's questions but said nothing more.
Afterward, his lawyer, George Vomvolakis, said Russo didn't
contact authorities about what he knew because "he was in fear for
his own safety and his family's."
Vomvolakis said no specific threat was made, but that his client
became worried about his own vulnerability after DiGirolamo
confessed details of the crime to him.
DiGirolamo's lawyer, Jerome Ballarotto, declined to comment on
claims made by Vomvolakis or Russo.
Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Meidt told the judge that Russo
"helped clean up the mess" after DiGirolamo killed his mistress
in the Hightstown apartment he rented for her and the child.
He said Russo met DiGirolamo at the pond on June 9 where the
body was dumped.
Vomvolakis disputed the prosecution's account. He said Russo
wasn't at the apartment after the murder. He says Russo led
DiGirolamo to the pond, but left before the body was dumped.
