The state Supreme Court has rejected an appeal from the man convicted of murder in the stabbing death of a 63-year-old New London man.
Christopher Petteway, 48, is serving a 65-year prison sentence for killing his former boyfriend Robert Parise in 2018. He argued in his appeal that he was entitled to a new trial based on the court’s refusal to let him represent himself.
In a decision released Wednesday, the court ruled that the trial court did not violate Petteway’s right to self-representation. Petteway’s decision not to show up in court at jury selection or during his own trial, along with his “intolerable pattern of obstructionist and disruptive behavior,” led to a forfeiture of his right to represent himself, the court wrote in its decision. The opinion released on Wednesday was written by Justice Joan K. Alexander.
Petteway was convicted at trial of murder and violation of a protective order in the Oct. 4, 2018 death of Parise, a salon owner whose friends and family remembered as a gentle soul with a giving heart. Police said Petteway stabbed Parise’s at Parise’s Brainard Street home not long after Petteway was release from a 30-day prison stint stemming from a prior domestic-related arrest.
Joseph Parise of Waterford, Robert Parise’s brother, said he and other family are “breathing a sigh of relief,” at the high court’s ruling.
“We’re relieved. It’s been a very long and difficult journey for myself and family. I’m hoping it’s finally over and we won’t have to keep looking over our shoulder wondering if he’s going to get set free,” Parise said.
Parise said with all of the disruptions and delays caused by Petteway while the case was pending, he didn’t always understand the court’s decisions at the time. Looking back, however, Parise said Superior Court Judge Shari Murphy was “brilliant in making sure that Mr. Petteway got all of his due process.”
Petteway was responsible for significant delays in the case getting to trial, first firing his public defenders and later, after being appointed new counsel, opting to represent himself at trial. Petteway, on the third day of jury selection, decided not to return to the courtroom after the lunch break.
Murphy considered Petteway’s refusal to return to court an “implied waiver” of his right to represent himself. She appointed special public defender Christopher Duby to handle his defense at trial, which Petteway did not attend.
“The trial court’s determination was based on its finding that the defendant had engaged in dilatory, disruptive, and manipulative conduct. It was not a premature or quick reaction but, rather, was made in an effort to regain control of the courtroom and the trial schedule.” the Supreme Court court ruling states.
Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Stephen Carney, who prosecuted the case, said he thought the Supreme Court correctly addressed all of the issues claimed in the appeal, which was argued by attorney Naomi Fetterman. Carney credited the state’s appellate unit for work in defending the conviction. The state’s case was argued by attorney Laurie Feldman.
Mr. Petteway, by not coming to court often made it difficult. There’s no question Judge Murphy worked hard to protect his rights and make sure he was always represented by defense council,” Carney said.
Parise said while he understands there are multiple appeals available to those convicted of crimes, “I’m hoping we don’t have to go through this again.
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