Fotis Dulos arrives at Connecticut Supreme Court to fight gag order which prevents him speaking about estranged wife’s disappearance ahead of his trial
- Fotis has been charged with evidence tampering in the May disappearance of his estranged wife Jennifer
- His attorney publicly claimed his innocence and said Jennifer might have staged a ‘Gone Girl’ stunt by running away or killing herself
- A judge issued a gag order afterwards, preventing him from discussing the case
- He is fighting it and say she ought to be able to make a ‘bold public defense’
- Separately, he is being sued by his estranged wife’s mother for $2.5million
- He is fighting the gag order, saying he should be able to defend himself
Fotis Dulos, the estranged husband of missing Connecticut mother Jennifer Dulos, is in the State Supreme Court on Wednesday fighting a gag order which prevents him from speaking about her vanishing and his alleged role in it.
Dulos has been charged with evidence tampering in the disappearance of his wife who vanished in May after dropping their five kids off at school.
He was charged along with his girlfriend at the time, Michelle Troconis.
Authorities think they deposited bags containing clothes with traces of Jennifer’s DNA at various locations along a road the night Jennifer vanished.
The missing mother’s body has never been found.
Fotis denies having anything to do with her disappearance and says prosecutors and police have pushed a false narrative about him.
Fotis Dulos became emotional on the steps of the Connecticut Supreme Court on Thursday before a hearing to fight a gag order which prevents him from speaking publicly about his estranged wife Jennifer’s disappearance. He has been charged with evidence tampering in the case
A judge issued a gag order earlier this year to prevent both sides from speaking publicly about the case and he believes it is unfair.
Jennifer Dulos has been missing since May
The gag order was issued after Dulos attorney, Norm Pattis, made the shocking suggestion that Jennifer was staging a ‘Gone Girl’ like stunt and had either gone missing willingly or had committed suicide.
On Thursday, Dulos and his lawyer were defiant in their fight.
He said he was determined to claim back his ‘right to free speech’ and also said that he wanted to reunite with his children, who he has not seen since May.
They are being cared for by Jennifer’s mother, Gloria Farber, who in a separate, civil case, is suing Fotis for $2.5million.
Before entering the courthouse on Thursday, Fotis told gathered reporters: ‘First of all I would like to thank my attorneys to put in so much work for something that is everyone’s right – that is the right to free speech.
‘On a more personal note, I’m concerned with another right.
‘That is my right to be a parent and my children’s right to have a father for the past 6 months my children and i have not been able to see or speak to each other.
‘My children have been banned not only from me but from their extended family.
‘My sister is here and she wanted to see my children and speak to them and she was not allowed to. Same with the rest of my family.
Fotis was joined in court by his sister who had traveled from Greece. He said she too had tried to see his children but that they have not been allowed
Dulos is shown making his way into the courtroom before the hearing
Dulos and his attorney Norm Pattis before making their way inside
Pattis arguing in front of the Connecticut Supreme Court on Thursday. He prompted laughter from the bench at one point
‘I cannot tell them, I will tell you guys that I love my children I miss them every day and I will not stop fighting for our right to be a family.’
Pattis said they were ‘drowning’ in negative press about the case.
Michelle Troconis, Fotis former girlfriend, is also charged
‘We didn’t create this tidal wave of publicity and we’ll be damned if we stay silent while it drowns us,’ Norm Pattis said.
Fotis also stands to lose one of the houses he developed – allegedly with the money he owes his missing estranged wife’s family.
A bank is moving into foreclosure on the property because the mortgage has not been paid.
The civil suit involves Jennifer’s mother’s allegation that since 2004, Fotis has received millions from his in-laws that were intended as business loans but that he has not paid back.
She specifically alleges that he owes her $2.5million.
He, however, believes he is entitled to not only keep the money but to keep receiving money from the estate, despite the fact that he and Jennifer were in the midst of getting a divorce when she vanished and despite the fact he has been charged in her disappearance.