Connecticut Supreme Court rejects request by inmate for DNA testing to prove victim’s ID

Conn. convicted killer loses bid for DNA testing

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — The Connecticut Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by a man serving a 125-year prison term for murder who demanded DNA tests done on remains of the victim, claiming the boy is alive and hiding in Italy.

The high court on Thursday unanimously rejected the appeal by Thomas Marra Jr., who was convicted of killing 15-year-old Alex Palmieri of Bridgeport in 1984.

Witnesses said the teenager was beaten with a baseball bat and stuffed into a refrigerator that was dumped in Bridgeport Harbor. Two years later, a sneaker and foot bones washed ashore. His girlfriend identified the sneaker as Palmieri’s.

A Superior Court judge ruled against requiring Palmieri’s brothers to give DNA samples to be compared with the remains.

The high court agreed, saying there was overwhelming evidence of Marra’s guilt.