BOSTON — The man accused of murdering a jogger in Princeton five years ago returns to court Wednesday morning. He says key DNA evidence that connects him to the crime should be thrown out.
The high-profile hearing is expected to last two days. The suspect, Angelo Colon-Ortiz is trying to get his DNA evidence that links him to the murder tossed. He claims there was a language barrier and he didn’t give police his consent to take his DNA.
Colon-Ortiz’s defense team filed a motion in Worcester Superior Court last year to suppress his DNA evidence. Investigators with Massachusetts State Police took a cheek swab test from Colon-Ortiz with his consent when they went to his home in March of 2017. His DNA, according to authorities, matched the DNA collected from Vanessa Marcotte’s fingernails during her autopsy. But Colon-Ortiz claims a language barrier is what led him to provide the sample to police without his voluntary consent. He also claims they didn’t properly explain the rights he was agreeing to waive.
The man accused of murdering Vanessa Marcotte 5 years ago is back in #Worcester Superior Court today. He is trying to get DNA evidence that connects him to the crime thrown out. @boston25 pic.twitter.com/UUHVnjIIeK
— Kelly Sullivan (@ksullivannews) June 9, 2021
It was August of 2016 when Marcotte was jogging near her mother’s Princeton home when she was attacked, sexually assaulted and killed. Nine months later, Colon-Ortiz was arrested and charged in the 27-year-old’s murder.
One of the reasons why this case has dragged on so long is that Colon-Ortiz fired his lawyers two years ago. He was trying to get his DNA evidence tossed back then.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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