Staten Island Man Arraigned In Parents' Killing
NEW YORK (CBS 2/AP) -- A funeral service was held on Staten Island Monday for the couple brutally murdered in their own home. On the same day, their own son was arraigned on murder charges, CBS 2HD's Kathryn Brown reports.
A bright sun did little to dry tears of grief and disbelief. Family and friends of Arthur and Marion Bellucci packed the Holy Child Church for the couple's service.
"Very special family and just loving and it's just a tragedy," said Jean Richards, a friend of the victims.
The Belluccis were stabbed to death inside their Annadale home on Wednesday. Days later, police in Tel Aviv arrested their son, 30-year-old Eric Bellucci, who had flown to Israel after the murders. He was charged with both killings.
"I'm praying for all of them, including him. He's just obviously a very sick child and any parent I guess would feel the same thing, just sadness," Richards said.
"This is a shame that, we all have kids and you always wonder, you love them and nurture them and this shouldn't have happened," said Chris Meekins, another friend of the victims.
Bellucci, sporting a beard and longish hair, looked disheveled and disoriented during his court appearance. He walked slowly, and did not speak.
Defense attorney John Kelly asked that Bellucci be placed on suicide watch as a precaution. He did not enter a plea and is being held without bail.
Marion Bellucci's brother spoke out for the first time at the couples wake over the weekend. "It's a relief that he is in custody, for his health, our health and his own, his own safety," said Mike Ruscitto.
Relatives said Eric Bellucci was schizophrenic and prone to violent episodes. He lived at home with his parents and, up until shortly before the murders, so did one of his sisters.
She reportedly left home because she was scared of him.
Bellucci was charged with two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon.
(TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
