Darien murder suspect says ill-timed kiss set him off
Prosecutors wrapped up the second full day of testimony in the murder trial of a former kitchen knife salesman from Darien by playing a series of his interrogation room videos from the day of the murder of 31-year-old Skokie man Teymur Huseynli.
In the videos, Joseph Spitalli, 36, changes his story at least three times before eventually breaking down in tears and confessing to slitting Huseynli's throat, nearly decapitating him.
In the first video, recorded about 7 a.m. on Nov. 17, 2012, Spitalli tells investigators his ex-girlfriend and housemate showed up at his door, bloodied, in the middle of the night after having been attacked by two men who jumped from the bushes and attacked her and her boyfriend Huseynli.
Kristina Baltrimaviciene, 30, of Darien testified Tuesday that she agreed to tell police the same story in order to keep Spitalli from killing her after he killed Huseynli.
In the second video, shot about 5 p.m. on Nov. 17, 2012, Spitalli tells investigators he wants to come clean and blames the murder on Baltrimaviciene. He said she appeared at his home, bloodied and carrying the knife, which he later helped her get rid of near 91st Street and Clarendon Hills Road in Darien.
"She told me she's had three boyfriends die, one here and two in Lithuania," Spitalli can be heard telling police. "I think she did something bad this time."
Finally, when presented with several pieces of evidence, in a third video Spitalli told police he went to Baltrimaviciene's home on that Friday expecting her not to be home. He said he was going to break into her apartment and steal some money to buy a birthday present for his then 6-year-old son.
Baltrimaviciene and Huseynli surprised him by exiting the apartment as he was approaching the door. He said he then had a private conversation with his ex-girlfriend in which he asked for money, which she declined to give him.
Spitalli said he and Husynli then exchanged words before Huseynli grabbed Baltrimaviciene and kissed her, right in front of his face.
"I lost it," Spitalli tells investigators in the video, later saying he "blacked out" and didn't remember cutting Huseynli. Spitalli eventually said he pulled the knife because he wanted to "scare the (expletive) out of Huseynli and "make him (wet) his pants." But in a fit of rage, he sliced Huseynli's throat, leaving him to die in Baltrimaviciene's front yard and cutting her hand.
A forensic biologist also testified Wednesday that blood spatter found on the knife believed to have been used directly matched both victims.
Mary Margaret Greer-Ritzheimer, of the DuPage County Forensic Science Center, testified that the kitchen knife contained DNA profile matches of both Huseynli, 31, and Baltrimaviciene.
"The profiles matching Kristina and Teymur exist in one in 53 billion Caucasians," Greer-Ritzheimer said.
Greer-Ritzheimer also testified Wednesday that a right-hand glove found in the map pocket of the car Spitalli was driving that night also contained Baltrimaviciene's blood.
"That profile is found in one in 2.9 quintillion Caucasians," she said.
Greer-Ritzheimer said a DNA sample taken from the Yankees jacket worn by Spitalli the night of the murder and later found in his apartment matched Spitalli's DNA profile. She said the jacket's left pocket also contained a left-hand glove and a key ring.
Baltrimaviciene said after Spitalli attacked her and Huseynli, he pulled her into a car and repeatedly threatened to kill her and her daughter if she didn't follow instructions.
Both sides said they expect to make closing arguments Friday morning before giving the case to the six-person jury.
If convicted, Spitalli faces life in prison.