TRENTON – Hamilton Mayor John Bencivengo will not take the stand in his criminal trial.
The mayor’s defense attorney, Jerome Ballarotto, called his last witness to the stand shortly before noon Thursday. Ballarotto indicated on Wednesday that Bencivengo, and possibly his estranged wife, could take the witness stand today during the mayor’s criminal case.
Judge Anne Thompson is expected to read to jurors the charges filed against the embattled mayor later this afternoon.
Jurors are then expected to return to court Monday to hear closing arguments before they go into deliberations.
Earlier trial coverage:
Former township official testifies that money woes led mayor to ask insurance broker for cash
FBI agent: Bencivengo looked ‘shocked’ when authorities played secret tapes
Day two of Bencivengo trial underway
Prosecutors hit play on Hamilton mayor recordings, Bencivengo says he ‘can’t get caught up’ on bills
Star witness in Bencivengo trial: I dontated ‘way more’ than legal limit to local campaigns