Victim's wife testifies in murder trial
Ronald Thornton hired a "death squad" to kill James DiMartino on Oct. 20, 2008, outside a restaurant on Jericho Turnpike in Commack, prosecutors said. Credit: Suffolk County Police Department
On the day he was killed in October 2008, James DiMartino left his Nesconset home believing he was about to become a rich man, his widow testified Tuesday.
Following months of living "paycheck to paycheck" after losing his job and starting a mortgage business with Ronald Thornton, DiMartino believed he would meet a mystery moneyman who would make a substantial investment in the firm, Diane DiMartino said.
"This is it," James DiMartino said as he kissed her goodbye on Oct. 20, 2008, and left for a meeting with Thornton and the investor, according to his wife of 14 years.
"He was going to get the money in the account, and he was going to make a lot of money," she said.
Instead, hours later, DiMartino, 44, was found lying in a Commack parking lot with a bullet wound to his head.
Prosecutors say three people hired by Thornton killed DiMartino, Thornton's attorney and business partner. Thornton, 39, of Nesconset, is charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy. Two alleged co-conspirators will be tried separately, and a third has pleaded guilty and is expected to testify against Thornton.
Thornton's attorney, Glenn Obedin of Central Islip, says there is no evidence linking Thornton to DiMartino's death.
Diane DiMartino remained composed as she testified for about 30 minutes on the second day of Thornton's trial in Suffolk County Court in Riverhead. She choked back tears when Assistant District Attorney Nancy Clifford asked how long she and her husband were married.
DiMartino said her husband was anxious and depressed on the weekend before he was killed.
On the previous Saturday, he tried calling Thornton several times to discuss a business deal but could not reach him, Diane DiMartino said. The next day, he unsuccessfully searched for Thornton at a Nesconset football field, then skipped his daughter's confirmation in case Thornton called, she said.
"Jim was really depressed and did not want to go," she said.
Later, questioned by Obedin, DiMartino admitted her husband "wasn't always honest with me" about his business deals.
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