NORTH BRUNSWICK -- Jurors in New Brunswick today watched more than two hours of a video-taped interview in which Raymond Troxell, the man charged in the December 2008 murder of his business partner Vinney Russo, repeatedly denied killing the man. Then 2 hours and 38 minutes into the interview that took place three days after the murder, Troxell, under...
Raymond Troxell, 49, of Kendall Park section of South Brunswick is charged with killing his business partner, Vincent Russo, 48, of Staten Island, co-owner of a deli in North Brunswick.
NORTH BRUNSWICK -- Jurors in New Brunswick today watched more than two hours of a video-taped interview in which Raymond Troxell, the man charged in the December 2008 murder of his business partner Vinney Russo, repeatedly denied killing the man.
Then 2 hours and 38 minutes into the interview that took place three days after the murder, Troxell, under intense questioning from Middlesex County Investigator Paul Miller, admitted making comments to friends at a bar that he would pay $2,000 to see Russo dead.
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Middlesex County Assistant Prosecutor Manuel Samiero, in his opening statement at the start of the trial on May 4, alleged Troxell, 50, of South Brunswick, paid Marsh $3,000 to kill the 48-year-old Russo, who was partners with Troxell in a deli on Route 130 and Adams Lane in North Brunswick.
Defense attorney Robert Corbin, in his opening remarks, denied Troxell paid to have his partner killed. Corbin acknowledged Troxell was angry at Russo for taking money out of the six-month-old business.
Russo, of Staten Island, was found dead on Dec. 16, 2008, shot once in the head. He was found slumped over his desk after relatives and his girlfriend, who were concerned when he never came home, went to the deli. Authorities said he was killed sometime after the business closed at 7 p.m. the day before.
Marsh, 45, will be tried separately because Troxell’s statement to authorities implicated him in the slaying.
In the video, the interview starts with Miller and Troxell sitting at a table in a small interrogation room at North Brunswick police headquarters. As the minutes pass, Miller inches his chair closer to Troxell, who sat with his back pushed against a wall.
"It’s over. It’s over, bro’. We know exactly what happened. This is your chance to make it clear exactly how it went down," Miller told Troxell.
Miller said he knew Troxell was a "good guy" with a family. The investigator said he knew Troxell had been "running his mouth" at a bar about wanting Russo killed. Miller said Marsh was about to give a statement.
"You’ll feel better when you do this. I’ll help you get through it," Miller assured Troxell.
On the tape, Troxell eventually admitted to the conversation at a bar in September 2008. But, Troxell said, when Marsh asked whether he was serious, he laughed it off.
Troxell said a mutual friend told him about the murder. Troxell said he and the friend met Marsh at a bar, where Marsh said, "I did that thing."
Troxell and the friend then went to Troxell’s home, and Marsh arrived wanting to be paid. Troxell said he gave Marsh $3,000 cash to make him leave.
"He had the psycho look on his face," Troxell said on the tape.
Miller is expected to continue testifying when the trial resumes today before Judge Frederick DeVesa.