DiMeo Found Guilty

Less than 24 hours after the jury began deliberating, Christopher DiMeo was found guilty of killing jewelers Tim and Kim Donnelly. DiMeo was convicted of two counts of murder and one count each of first-degree robbery and capital felony for the Feb. 2, 2005 double murder-robbery at the Donnelly’s downtown Fairfield jewelry store.

In his closing argument yesterday morning, DiMeo’s defense attorney Michael Courtney attempted to persuade the jury into believing DiMeo did not intend to kill the couple.

“You can’t make a master criminal out of a junkie with a gun,” he said. “There is no common plan; this is not a serial killer. It’s a junkie with a gun.”

However senior assistant state’s attorney Joseph Corradino told the jury: “The plan was calculated and cold. This was no spontaneous crime – this was well-thought out and well-organized.”

Tim Donnelly was shot four times; his wife Kim was shot fives times. An autopsy revealed Kim Donnelly had entry wounds from both the front and back.

DiMeo now faces the death penalty; the penalty phase will begin Feb. 28.

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