Bradley Gardens Man Renews Call for Speedy Trial in Murder Case

The lawyer for a Bradley Gardens man still awaiting trial in connection with a 2009 murder is asking a judge either to dismiss the charges against his client, set a trial date or release him from jail pending a trial.

Next week Superior Court John Pursel will issue a ruling on the speedy trial motion made by James Wronko, attorney for Rocky DiTaranto, according to a report on nj.com.

DiTaranto, 27, of Maple Street, David Granskie Jr., 26, of Oak Street, and Gary Wilson, 30, of Leghorn Avenue, were charged  in the murder of 45-year-old Carolyn Stone at a party over the 2009 Memorial Day weekend at a Bradley Gardens home.

While DiTaranto and Granskie are still awaiting trial, Wilson pleaded guilty on a murder charge  last month and was sentenced to 45 years in state prison.

The trial of DiTaranto and Granskie, who will be tried together, has been delayed by many factors, including a switch in Granskie’s attorney and a prosecution’s appeal of the judge’s decision to allow testimony that Granskie’s confession was false, a function of his withdrawal from drugs.

In pleading guilty, Wilson agreed to testify against DiTaranto and Granskie.

Wilson told the judge that he and friends were attending a Memorial Day weekend barbecue at an Oak Street home, where Stone lived with Granskie's father, and became intoxicated after drinking alcohol, smoking marijuana and snorting cocaine.

In the middle of the night, Wilson said, DiTaranto led Stone, who was also intoxicated, into the backyard of the home. 

 Wilson said he went with them. From there, Wilson said, 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 too, but didn't.

Wilson said he then dropped a cinder block three times on her head to keep her quiet.