Attorney for 18-year-old accused in deadly Cranford hit-and-run plans to use insanity defense
Battiloro is accused in the murder of 2 teenage girls in Cranford last year after allegedly running them down with his Jeep. Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas were riding an E-bike together a the time of the crash. Today in court, an attorney for Battiloro said he also wants the trial moved out of Union County.
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The defense attorney for an 18-year-old accused of intentionally running down two 17-year-old girls in Cranford last year says his client’s mental capacity was diminished and will use an insanity defense at trial.
Vincent Battiloro, of Garwood, is charged with murderer.
Battiloro appeared in court for an arraignment on Monday, his first time since the Union County prosecutor decided to try the teen as an adult. He’s accused of driving his Jeep directly at Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas as the two teenagers were riding an e-bike along a road in Cranford.
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Following the arraignment in Elizabeth, Mary Salas, the mother of Isabella, spoke through tears.
“They were 17 years old, about to graduate high school. They were inseparable. The world lost two rays of sunshine that day," said Mary Salas.
The attorneys for the relatives of the two girls also spoke on the Union County Courthouse steps after the hearing. They announced they want an immediate investigation by the state Attorney General’s Office to determine if the Cranford Police Department failed these families. They're calling for the immediate release of body camera video worn by police during the investigation into the stalking and the deadly crash.
“The Niotis family was begging for help on multiple occasions. They’re going to the police department and they’re begging for help. What happens? Nothing," said attorney Brett Bramnick.
“They were crying out for help for their daughter, for the safety of their community. Somewhere along the way they were failed," said attorney Cory Rothbort.
The mother of Maria Niotis has said that Battiloro was stalking her daughter for months before the incident.
As for Battiloro, after his arrest, he told police that he was carjacked. However, the prosecution has already disputed that argument by revealing Battiloro recorded what happened on dashcam video.
Battiloro remains in the Union County jail. A conviction as an adult could result in a 30-year to life sentence.
His attorney revealed he would be filing a motion to move any trial out of Union County.
