PATERSON, N.J. – A California man charged with killing his estranged wife and another person inside a New Jersey church took the stand Thursday to describe the killings and a marriage full of turbulence that he blamed on meddling from family and members of their insular, ancient Christian sect from Southern India.
Joseph Pallipurath of Sacramento is on trial in Paterson for the killing of his estranged wife, 24-year-old Reshma James, and 25-year-old Dennis John Mallosseril, a parishioner who witnesses said — and Pallipurath confirmed — had tried to intervene.
Prosecutors said Pallipurath drove across the country, burst into the vestibule of a Clifton church in November 2008 and tried to remove James by force.
James and Mallosseril were fatally shot. James’ cousin Silvy Perincheril was shot in the head but survived. She is now in a wheelchair.
Mallosseril’s mother, Aley Kutty John, put her head down, sobbed and then grew faint and fell
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