Attorney of missing mother’s estranged husband fights gag order
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Hartford (WFSB) — An attorney for the estranged husband of a missing woman asked the Supreme Court to overturn a gag order on Thursday.
Attorney Norm Pattis said the gag order is making it hard to defend his client, Fotis Dulos, saying he’s being treated unfairly because of it.
A hearing was held on Thursday morning.
Fotis Dulos was charged with tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution in connection with the disappearance of his estranged wife, Jennifer Farber Dulos of New Canaan.
Pattis said the gag order restricts him or anyone else connected to the case, including lawyers, from publicly saying anything about the credibility of the victim, witnesses or any other trial participants.
Pattis also said the order is unfair because the public can only hear one side of the story.
“If the court has a concern that remote speech in this case would affect his fair trial rights, I believe the court has a responsibility to canvas the defendant on whether he understands consequences of his actions,” Pattis said in court on Thursday.
Jennifer Dulos disappeared back in May. She was last seen dropping her children off at school in New Canaan.
Police arrested Fotis Dulos and his girlfriend at the time, Michelle Troconis, in connection with the case.
State police officials told Channel 3 back in September that a lot of evidence in the case has yet to be presented.
There are many unanswered questions in the case. According to police, warrants claim Fotis was driving around Hartford with a bag of things, one was Jennifer’s bloody t-shirt.
Also, police say he borrowed an employee’s vehicle and then had it cleaned the next day, and told the car owner he should get new seats for the vehicle.
Outside of court on Thursday, Dulos said it’s his right to free speech and wants to see his children.
“That’s my right to be a parent and my children’s right to have a father. For the past six months, my children and I have not been allowed to see one another and my children,” Dulos said.
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