FREEHOLD, NJ – The trial for a New Jersey man accused of murdering his brother along with his brother’s family back in 2018 began earlier in January, with the accused murderer reportedly breaking down in tears while prosecutors laid out their allegations before the court.
On January 12th, 59-year-old Paul Caneiro appeared at the Monmouth County Superior Court regarding the numerous charges he’s facing over the alleged murders of his brother, 50-year-old Keith Caneiro, Keith’s 45-year-old wife Jennifer, and their two children Sophia and Jesse, ages 8 and 11.
According to prosecutors, Caneiro methodically executed his brother and brother’s family on November 20th, 2018, subsequently setting the victims’ house on fire as well as his own home in an apparent effort to cover up the brutal slayings.
Prosecutors claim the murders were carried out after Keith confronted his brother over the phone the day prior, asking about the whereabouts of tens of thousands of dollars meant to fund Keith’s respective life insurance policy.
In the prosecution’s theory regarding Caneiro’s alleged motive, he’d purportedly been siphoning money from the trust fund he had access to in order to fund an alleged affair with a mistress at the time of the murders.
Nicole Wallace, who is prosecuting the case, claimed in her opening statements before the court that Caneiro “snuck up on the family while they slept,” cutting the power to the home in an effort to lure Keith outside to check on the backup generator.
Once Keith was outside, Wallace claims Caneiro shot him six times so that he’d be “out of the way” and unable to protect his family who were still inside the home.
From there, Wallace says Caneiro ventured inside his brother’s home, stabbing and ultimately shooting Keith’s wife Jennifer and then taking a knife to both of the young children.
By the time the house was set ablaze, prosecutors say both of the young children were still barely alive, suffering from smoke inhalation as they bled out.
Following the alleged quadruple murder, prosecutors say Caneiro set a fire inside of his Ocean Township home as a means to make it look as though his collective family were being targeted by some unknown individual with a vendetta.
Prosecutors highlighted how Caneiro managed to keep his own wife and kids from suffering any injuries from the house fire allegedly started by him.
Caneiro, who is facing numerous charges of murder, aggravated arson, theft, hindering arrest, and weapons possession, has been in custody since November 2018.
While the case is over seven years old as of this writing, numerous aspects like the response to the pandemic in 2020 alongside several filings and motions brought forth by Caneiro’s legal team has resulted in numerous delays of the trial.
The trial is expected to carry on for approximately two-and-a-half months before being left in the hands of 12 jurors who will ultimately decide Caneiro’s fate. If convicted on the most serious charges at hand, Caneiro faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.
On January 12th, 59-year-old Paul Caneiro appeared at the Monmouth County Superior Court regarding the numerous charges he’s facing over the alleged murders of his brother, 50-year-old Keith Caneiro, Keith’s 45-year-old wife Jennifer, and their two children Sophia and Jesse, ages 8 and 11.
According to prosecutors, Caneiro methodically executed his brother and brother’s family on November 20th, 2018, subsequently setting the victims’ house on fire as well as his own home in an apparent effort to cover up the brutal slayings.
Prosecutors claim the murders were carried out after Keith confronted his brother over the phone the day prior, asking about the whereabouts of tens of thousands of dollars meant to fund Keith’s respective life insurance policy.
In the prosecution’s theory regarding Caneiro’s alleged motive, he’d purportedly been siphoning money from the trust fund he had access to in order to fund an alleged affair with a mistress at the time of the murders.
Nicole Wallace, who is prosecuting the case, claimed in her opening statements before the court that Caneiro “snuck up on the family while they slept,” cutting the power to the home in an effort to lure Keith outside to check on the backup generator.
Once Keith was outside, Wallace claims Caneiro shot him six times so that he’d be “out of the way” and unable to protect his family who were still inside the home.
From there, Wallace says Caneiro ventured inside his brother’s home, stabbing and ultimately shooting Keith’s wife Jennifer and then taking a knife to both of the young children.
By the time the house was set ablaze, prosecutors say both of the young children were still barely alive, suffering from smoke inhalation as they bled out.
Following the alleged quadruple murder, prosecutors say Caneiro set a fire inside of his Ocean Township home as a means to make it look as though his collective family were being targeted by some unknown individual with a vendetta.
Prosecutors highlighted how Caneiro managed to keep his own wife and kids from suffering any injuries from the house fire allegedly started by him.
Caneiro, who is facing numerous charges of murder, aggravated arson, theft, hindering arrest, and weapons possession, has been in custody since November 2018.
While the case is over seven years old as of this writing, numerous aspects like the response to the pandemic in 2020 alongside several filings and motions brought forth by Caneiro’s legal team has resulted in numerous delays of the trial.
The trial is expected to carry on for approximately two-and-a-half months before being left in the hands of 12 jurors who will ultimately decide Caneiro’s fate. If convicted on the most serious charges at hand, Caneiro faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.
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