Testimony: Husband Ate Lunch, Went to Mass Following Wife’s Shooting Death
In the month leading up to Amanda Grazioli's death, prosecutors say John Grazioli had been systematically plotting how he was going to remove his wife from his life.
"She was planning a vacation." said Assistant District Attorney Erin Connelly. "The evidence will show that her husband was planning her death."
Defense lawyer Brian Arrowsmith is not denying that John caused Amanda's death.
"We are here due to an unimaginable tragedy," said Arrowsmith. "We're here today because Amanda Grazioli is dead, and John Grazioli shot her.
However, they are disputing the intent and say this is not a case of first-degree murder.
"Is this a consequence of a husband's malicious intent, or something entirely different?" said Arrowsmith.
John Grazioli, 45, is charged with shooting his 31-year-old wife in the back of the head, as she was lying in their bed.
The shooting happened on March 8, 2018, inside of the couple’s Millcreek Township home.
On Tuesday, both the prosecution and defense laid out their case during opening statements.
After shooting his wife in the head, Connelly said that John went to the Public House on West 26th Street, where he ate lunch, had a beer, and read a newspaper.
Connelly said John Grazioli then went to Mass at St. Jude the Apostle Church, where his children attended school.
Surveillance video from both locations was played out in court.
Prosecutors say Grazioli then drove to Saint Peter's Cathedral, where he admitted to a Catholic priest outside of confession, that he killed his wife.
The defendant's ex-wife Erica Grazioli also took the stand on Tuesday, where she testified that John called her on the day of the shooting and admitted that he killed Amanda.
"He said that he killed Amanda," said Erica Grazioli. "He said he had the gun with him and he was going to kill himself.”
Connelly also presented a suicide note in the courtroom, which was found near Amanda's body.
"I killed Amanda Schmitt Grazioli," the note read. "I've killed myself. I'm profoundly sorry."
It was also revealed in court that Amanda had traces of cocaine and marijuana in her system, and that John admitted to doing drugs the night before the shooting.
However, it's unclear exactly that information will be used during the trial.
Testimony is set to continue on Wednesday morning, with Judge Daniel Brabender presiding over the trial.