STATEN ISLAND — A man accused of murdering his parents in their home and then fleeing to Israel was arraigned Wednesday nearly two years after his arrest.
Eric Bellucci, 32, was initially deemed mentally unfit to stand trial and his arraignment was pushed back. But last Friday, state Supreme Court Judge Robert Collini ruled Bellucci was mentally competent, the Wall Street Journal reported.
In court Wednesday, Collini ruled that Bellucci continued to be held without bail after prosecutors argued he was a flight risk.
Bellucci was also placed in protective custody at the request of his attorney, Mark Fonte, because of media interest in the case.
The suspect allegedly stabbed his parents Arthur, 61, and Marian, 57, to death in their Annandale home on Oct. 13, 2010. Bellucci then flew to Tel Aviv, where he was caught two days later after attempting to buy a ticket to Beijing, the Journal said.
Bellucci, whose family said he has a history of schizophrenia, was ruled mentally incompetent to stand trial, then found capable less than three months later, the Journal said.
An examination from the defense's psychiatrist later contradicted the state doctor's findings and a new round of tests were ordered by the judge.
Eventually, a judge ruled Bellucci able to understand the charges against him and aid in his defense and scheduled the arraignment, the Journal said.
