Murder Suspect's Lawyer to Hire False Confession Expert

The attorney for one of the Bridgewater men charged with murdering a Bradley Gardens woman in 2009 said Monday that she will be hiring an expert on false confessions.

The hiring of the expert will mean a delay in the scheduling of trial dates for David Granskie Jr., 24, and Rocky DiTaranto, 25, who are charged with the murder and sexual assault of 45-year-old  in the backyard of an Oak Street home during the 2009 Memorial Day weekend.

Attorney Katherine Errickson told Superior Court Judge John Pursel that the expert will study statements given to police by her client, Granskie, that implicated him in the murder. Stone was the girlfriend of Granskie’s father at the time of her murder.

Somerset County Assistant Prosecutor Joseph Rochietti said the prosecution plans to put Granskie on trial before DiTaranto. Rochietti, who said he is ready to go to trial, said that he hopes he won’t be forced to hire his own expert in response to Errickson’s expert.  

A third defendant—Gary Wilson, 28, also of Bridgewater—pleaded guilty to the murder in July and is awaiting sentencing. Wilson will serve at least 38 years in prison under the terms of the plea agreement with the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office.

Errickson also told Pursel that she wants to be able to talk to Wilson, but that his lawyer is “uncomfortable” with that request because the sentencing is still pending.

Errickson said Wilson’s testimony would “exculpate” Granskie, adding that there is a “lack of evidence” against her client.

Wilson, Granskie and DiTaranto were charged with killing Stone in the backyard of the home she shared with Granskie’s father. The murder took place at the end of a party where authorities said the defendants were drinking and taking drugs.

In his guilty plea, Wilson told the judge that he and his friends became intoxicated. He said DiTaranto then led Stone, who was also intoxicated, into the backyard where DiTaranto had sex with Stone on the ground, keeping his hands on her neck to keep her down. After DiTaranto had sex with her, Wilson said he was supposed to have sex with her, but didn’t.

But Wilson said he dropped a cinderblock three times on Stone’s head to keep her quiet.

Errickson previously said Granskie made his statement to police after reading the extensive reports of the case in the media, including the arrests of Wilson and DiTaranto.

Errickson is also reconsidering whether a hearing should be held to determine if Granskie’s statement should be allowed as evidence into the trial. She had previously waived the hearing.

DiTaranto’s attorney, James Wronko, said he is ready to go to trial and has filed motions for a speedy trial. Wronko said DiTaranto was ready for trial since April 2010.

“We were ready then and we’re ready now,” he said.

The next status conference before Pursel is scheduled for Jan. 31.