Husband in Fla. wife's murder-for-hire trial says this was no hoax
(CBS/WFOR) WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The husband of South Florida woman Dalia Dippolito, who is on trial for planning to have him killed, took the stand Wednesday and denied the plot was a hoax intended to get him on a reality TV show.
Michael Dippolito spent much of the day Wednesday on the witness stand in a West Palm Beach courtroom where his former, now 28, is on trial in the alleged murder-for-hire plot.
"Mr. Dippolito, did you know anything about a murder for hire plot against you?" the prosecutor asked.
"No," he answered.
In opening statements Tuesday, defense attorney Michael Salnick told jurors that the scheme was all part of an elaborate hoax because Michael Dippolito was a fan of reality TV and wanted to star in his own program.
But prosecutors say Dalia Dippolito willfully tried to carry out her murder for hire plot in the summer of 2009.
According to CBS affiliate WFOR, they plan to show the jury an undercover police video which details Dalia Dippolito giving a supposed hit man instructions for carrying out the murder. Dalia Dippolito was unaware the "hit man" was an undercover cop.
On Wednesday, attorneys showed the jury a picture of Dalia Dippolito's purse taken on the day the hit was supposed to be carried out.
The picture shows her purse stuffed with jewelry. Prosecutors say she took her jewels from the home thinking she would be unable to return once Boynton Beach police began their murder investigation.
Dalia Dippolito faces one count of solicitation to commit first degree murder, which could carry up to a 30-year prison sentence.