Request For Lower Bail Denied In N.J. Domestic Murder Case
HACKENSACK, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A northern New Jersey man was being held on $2 million bail this weekend on charges of beating his wife to death during an argument.
An attorney for Thomas Fabbricatore, 64, of Hackensack, had sought to lower his client's bail on Friday. But The Record reported that state Superior Court Judge Liliana DeAvila-Silebi told attorney Frank Lucianna to request a separate bail hearing if he wanted to pursue the matter.
The bail reduction request came as Fabbricatore pleaded not guilty to murder charges. He initially was charged with attempted murder, but the charge was upgraded this week after his 58-year-old wife, Beth, died from her injuries.
Lucianna has said Thomas Fabbricatore didn't intend to hurt his wife, saying she fell and hit her head on the floor when they pushed each other during a ``domestic spat'' on Nov. 12.
"It was just an argument between a husband and a wife," Lucianna said during the hearing. "He's going to be crushed. He's going to lose his incentive to defend himself."
Authorities responded to the couple's home that day after receiving an anonymous tip. They said Thomas Fabbricatore told them there was nothing wrong, but police found his wife on the floor with grave injuries.
Bergen County prosecutors have said the defense is downplaying the incident, noting that the evidence would show Elizabeth Fabbricatore had "suffered years of abuse" from her husband.
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