Borizov won't testify in murder trial

The man charged with being the mastermind behind the March 2010 slayings of three members of a Darien family won't take the stand in his own defense.

As a result, the case against murder suspect Johnny Borizov could go to the jury as early as Tuesday afternoon.

Borizov — who is accused in the killings of Jeffery and Lori Kramer and their 20-year-old son, Mike — was given the weekend to make up his mind about whether he would testify when the trial resumes Tuesday morning.

But during a Monday hearing about jury instructions, it was revealed Borizov won't take the stand.

Prosecutors claim Borizov was involved in a bitter child-custody dispute with his ex-girlfriend, Angela Kramer, when he enlisted Jacob Nodarse to murder her family.

Nodarse, who pleaded guilty but mentally ill to murder, has testified that Borizov persuaded him to commit the crime by telling him Michael Kramer, a onetime friend, had hired someone to kill Nodarse and his family because Nodarse could be called as a witness at a custody hearing.

Nodarse said he also was led to believe Borizov ran an underground criminal enterprise whose members wanted Nodarse to demonstrate his loyalty by killing someone.

The Kramers were fatally shot inside their home after Nodarse broke in through a window. Angela Kramer survived by hiding in a closet.