Accused serial killer “Son of Sal” can represent self at trial
Accused serial killer and oddball apparel salesman Salvatore Perrone added another title Monday: defense attorney.
Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Alan Marrus agreed to the defendant's request even after strongly urging the 64-year-old loner to not represent himself at trial and telling him, "You are very confused when it comes to attorney issues."
Perrone, wearing a crumpled oversized shirt tucked into velvety brown sweatpants, seemed confused about other matters.
He said he's charged with six murders and facing the death penalty, when he's actually facing life without parole for allegedly killing three Middle Eastern men in July, August and November of 2012. He was arrested shortly after the third murder.
In statements to cops, he said he's been working for "the Palestinian section of the CIA."
The Staten Island man, nicknamed Son of Sal by his neighbors, also claimed that a surveillance video from a subway station will exonerate him, declaring, "You got the wrong guy here. The videos will speak for themselves."
But prosecutor Melissa Carvajal countered that the defendant is confused about that as well, basing his alibi on the time the last body was found, not the time of the murder. She added there are no cameras at the subway entrance Perrone referenced.
There are 127 actual surveillance video and nearly 1,000 police reports, Carvajal said. The voluminous evidence, along with the pro se psycho at the defense table, means that a trial is still many months away and the judge's patience will likely be tested to the limit.
After much back and forth with Perrone, Marrus allowed defense lawyer William Martin to be fired by the alleged killer.
"I officially relieve you from representing the defendant," the judge told him. "Try not to smile."
Martin indeed looked relieved when he left the courtroom.
"As you can see, reality is a problem in this case for Mr. Perrone," Martin said. "There's an adage that says, 'a defendant who represents himself has a fool for a client.'"
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crim...#ixzz2Znvb3Agn
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