1. By Phyllis Swebilius
pswebilius@nhregister.com
@pswebilius on Twitter
MILFORD >> The trial of Tim-
othy Granata, 24, accused of
murder in the stabbing death
of his mother last year, began
Tuesday in Superior Court be-
fore a three-judge panel.
Granata has pleaded not
guilty by reason of insanity.
Dr. Claudia Dinen Granata
was found by police in the fami-
ly’s home on Wild Rose Drive in
Orange. Timothy Granata was
nearby, walking on the road.
He carried a cellphone and
a white, blood-smeared Bible.
Orange police Detective
Brian Petrucelli testified that
he took the “signal 47” call —
homicide — in his office about
2:20 p.m. July 24, 2014.
He had to look it up to be
sure, he testified. “It doesn’t
happen too often in Orange.”
The prosecutor, Supervisory
State’s Attorney Cornelius P.
Kelly, introduced a one-hour,
41-minute tape of Granata in
the custody of police, at the
scene and at police headquar-
ters.
Granata is heard over and
over saying he killed his mother
and alleging he had been a vic-
tim of sexual abuse by her.
No evidence has been intro-
duced to substantiate Grana-
ta’s claim.
At times he can be heard cry-
ing, then apologizing to police.
In the squad car, Granata
was asked whether he had
made the 911 call. First he says
he did, then he says he can’t re-
member.
At one point, Granata tells
police: “I just want to die.”
Defense attorney Hugh F.
Keefe of Lynch, Traub, Keefe
& Errante, New Haven, is ex-
pected to begin questioning Pe-
trucelli Wednesday.
The panel of three Superior
Court judges, Denise Markle,
Peter L. Brown and Theodore
Tyma, is expected to get the
case Thursday.
MILFORD
Trial begins for Orange man accused of killing mother
Today’s web bonus >> Photos: Burning rooms for fire safety at UNH photos.newhavenregister.com
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Open CEO
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at 79
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Man gets
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ARNOLD GOLD — NEW HAVEN REGISTER
Timothy Granata is arraigned July 25, 2014,
in the killing of his mother, Dr. Claudia Dinan
Granata, in Superior Court in Derby.
H: L:
Sunny; nice
64 47
PAGE A14
By Kate Ramunni
kramunni@nhregister.com
@kateramunni on Twitter
HAMDEN >> Mayor Curt Balzano
Leng will have his first full term
in office to continue the work
he started six months ago when
elected in a special election.
Leng was elected by an unoffi-
cial vote of 6,208 to 4,228 Tues-
day over Republican challenger
Bob Anthony in a rematch of the
May 28 special election held af-
ter former Mayor Scott Jackson
resigned to take a position in
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s admin-
istration.
HAMDEN
Leng
remains
in office
Defeats GOP challenger
Bob Anthony in rematch
CATHERINE AVALONE — NEW HAVEN
REGISTER
Mayor Curt Balzano Leng
celebrates with Elliot Kerzner, left,
and his mother, Linda Leng, right,
after defeating Republican Bob
Anthony Tuesday.
By Susan Haigh
The Associated Press
BRIDGEPORT >> An ex-convict who
spent seven years in federal prison
for corruption reclaimed the
Bridgeport mayor’s office Tues-
day, completing a stunning come-
back bid that tapped nostalgia for
brighter days in Connecticut’s larg-
est city.
Joe Ganim, who was released
from prison only five years ago, de-
clared victory in a race involving
seven opponents.
“Tonight, we not only made his-
tory, but we defined a new course
for this great city,” Ganim said in
a victory speech at Testo’s restau-
rant in Bridgeport, surrounded by
supporters.
“Of course, there’s an element of
redemption in all of this,” he said.
The Democrat’s campaign was
fueled by a wave of good will from
many who fondly remembered his
years in office, from 1991 until 2003,
when he was convicted of 16 cor-
ruption charges. His supporters
credit his leadership for a time of
lower taxes, safer neighborhoods
and cleaner parks.
BRIDGEPORT
Ganimreclaimsmayor’sseat
ARNOLD GOLD — NEW HAVEN REGISTER
Campaign manager Joseph Zullo (back to camera) celebrates with East Haven Mayor Joseph Maturo Jr. after election results are
announced at campaign headquarters in East Haven Tuesday night.
By Juliemar Ortiz
jortiz@nhregister.com
@juliemarortiz on Twitter
EASTHAVEN>> Incumbent Joseph
Maturo recaptured the may-
oral seat in East Haven Tues-
day night.
Maturo, a former town fire-
fighter, will be serving his
eighth term as mayor. Maturo
served five terms, from 1997 to
2007 and another two from 2011
to 2015.
Maturo claimed victory as
unofficial numbers had him re-
ceiving 2,981 votes. Democrat
Michael Speer received 1,702
votes and Independent chal-
lenger Sal Maltese received
1,836 votes, according to unof-
ficial results.
“It’s a great victory, I owe it all
to the people of our community,”
Maturo said. “We’re a great com-
muntiy, we’re proud to be East
Haveners, and I am proud that
they gave me the opportunity to
represent them for the next two
years.”
EAST HAVEN
MORE MATURO
Incumbent Republican wins eighth term as mayor
In this Sept.
11, 2012,
photo, former
Bridgeport
Mayor Joseph
Ganim appears in
Superior Court in
Bridgeport.
NED GERARD —
HEARST CONNECTICUT
MEDIA VIA THE
ASSOCIATED PRESSGANIM » PAGE 2
LENG » PAGE 2
MATURO » PAGE 2
Lottery.............A2 Opinion......A10-11 Business..........B2 Obituaries... B3-4 Movie guide.....C4 Television.........C5 Advice...............C7INDEX
Incumbent easily defeats
Democratic challenger
John Bimonte, according to
unofficial results. PAGE A8
NORTH HAVEN
Freda easily retains
first selectman’s seat
Beating 2challengers, city’s
first female leader says “vibrant
and alive” Elm City is cultural
center of the state. PAGE A7
NEW HAVEN
Harp sweeps
to 2nd term as mayor
Duggato, Cassetti, Miller
handily defeat opponents to
remain in office for another
two years. PAGE B1
VALLEY
Incumbents sweep
Derby, Ansonia, Seymour
Incumbent Democratic mayor
elected to a third term, beat-
ing his Republican challenger
6,180to 5,506. PAGE B1
MILFORD
Blake ready and eager
to get back to work
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