"Heroin-addled" Robert Camarano—who was accused of stabbing his girlfriend in 2008 and is now acting as his own lawyer—went about choosing a jury yesterday, using everything from sympathy to awkward humor to make his decision. According to the Post, he apparently apologized about the "oil spill" to one boat captain on the bench, and asked one group, "Does anyone at all have a problem with the lack of direct, concrete evidence in this case?" Because if they don't, boy does he have a case for them!
Despite multiple reminders from the judge that he is completely unqualified to represent himself, Camarano lectured the possible jurors with stories of his life with victim Michele Hyams. When the judge tried to cut him off, he yelled, "Judge, if you're gonna hobble me, I shouldn't even be here! Every word outta my mouth you find fault with!"
Camarano also says notes from Hyams claiming he threatened her a month before the murder were planted by her sister, and attempted to have them excluded from the trial. In the notes, Camarano allegedly said things like "I want to break your f---ing jaw," and Assistant District Attorney Amir Vonsover said Hyams had every reason to fear she would be hurt. Hyams' friend Beth Kraimer says the two had reconnected on Classmates.com, and isn't buying Camarano's pitiful cries that he "lost my common-law woman." She said, "It's funny, he's trying to defend himself, and he's so guilty."
