Elmont man charged in family's murder pleads not guilty
Dario Ormejuste, accused of killing his brother and parents, appears in court. (July 12, 2010) Credit: Howard Schnapp
An Elmont man accused of killing his brother and both his parents appeared confused Tuesday as he was arraigned on murder charges, and his lawyer entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.
"Who am I?" Dario Ormejuste, 24, asked Judge James McCormack angrily after McCormack asked him how he pleaded to the charges. Ormejuste's lawyer, Richard Barbuto of Babylon, then stood to answer the judge.
Ormejuste was charged with one count of first-degree murder, three counts of second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon on charges that he shot and killed his immediate family in June: his mother, Rose, 65; father, Bob, 65; and brother, Guerby, 30, a New York City correction officer. A person accused of killing two or more people in the same incident can be charged with first-degree murder.
Nassau police say Ormejuste shot his father and brother on June 21 but wasn't arrested until June 23, after an uncle went to the home to check the whereabouts of the missing family members. Police said they found Guerby Ormejuste's body in the basement and his father's body in the kitchen. Weeks later, police found the family car in Brooklyn, with Rose Ormejuste's body in the trunk.
Barbuto asked for, and was granted an extension on the legal deadline of 30 days after arraignment to file a notice of psychiatric defense in the case. He said prosecutors had turned over evidence to him, including statements Ormejuste made to police, a videotaped interview with him and a CD of crime-scene photographs.
"It's way too early for me to make any decisions on which way I'm going with the case," Barbuto said.
Ormejuste is due back in court Sept. 22.
'No one wants to pay more taxes than they need to' Nearly 20,000 Long Islanders work in town and city government. A Newsday investigation found a growing number of them are making more than $200,000 a year. NewsdayTV's Andrew Ehinger reports.
'No one wants to pay more taxes than they need to' Nearly 20,000 Long Islanders work in town and city government. A Newsday investigation found a growing number of them are making more than $200,000 a year. NewsdayTV's Andrew Ehinger reports.
