LI CRIME BRIEFS

MASTIC / Judge will allow words of slain woman as testimony

The words of a woman who was stabbed to death can be used at trial against the man charged with killing her, a Suffolk judge ruled Monday.

Suffolk County Court Judge Barbara Kahn ruled that friends of Laura Pizzini can testify that for months she expressed concern that Guenter Wende was following her. Assistant District Attorney Bob Biancavilla said some of those friends saw him following her, too.

Wende, 43, of Mastic, is accused of letting himself into Pizzini's Mastic apartment, where he allegedly killed her.

He told police they dated -- which her family has denied -- and that he couldn't get her out of his head.

His attorney, Jason Bassett of Central Islip, said the judge declined to let prosecutors use a statement in which Pizzini said she was afraid for her life.

Jury selection is scheduled to begin in September.

-- ANDREW SMITH

WESTHAMPTON / Homeless man charged with breaking into homes

A homeless man faces larceny and burglary charges after he broke into at least two homes in Westhampton, ordering movies at one of them while also stealing a bicycle, police said Monday.

Trevor Harris, 38, was arrested by Southampton Town police and Westhampton Beach police Saturday after he was found hiding inside a home in Westhampton, Southampton police said.

He was charged with second-degree burglary, third-degree criminal trespass, fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property and petit larceny, police said.

Police said Harris had broken into a home in Westhampton, removing a bicycle, and while he was in the home he also ordered "several movies." He was later found inside a second home.

-- JOHN VALENTI

NEW CASSEL / Cops: Pedestrian injured in attack by 3 robbers

A 29-year-old man, walking along a street in New Cassel, was attacked Sunday night and robbed of $300 in cash by a trio of men who struck him in the head with a fire extinguisher, Nassau police said.

The victim, who police said was also beaten by the trio, suffered cuts to his head and left ear, as well as a fractured right wrist. He was taken to a hospital for treatment, police said. His condition was unknown Monday.

Police said the incident occurred on Grand Street near Broadway at 10:05 p.m.

It was then, police said, that three men, believed to be in their late teens or early 20s, struck the victim in the head with a fire extinguisher, then beat him, stealing his wallet.

-- JOHN VALENTI