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A grand jury is now reviewing the case of Luciano Frattolin, a Canadian man accused of killing his nine-year-old daughter, Melina, while they were returning from a vacation in upstate New York. Frattolin's scheduled court appearance on Friday (July 25) in Ticonderoga was postponed due to the grand jury's involvement.
Frattolin, 45, has pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse. According to The Coast Reporter, he initially reported Melina missing and potentially abducted, but police later determined his story was false. Her body was discovered in a shallow pond in Ticonderoga on July 20, and an autopsy confirmed she died from asphyxia due to drowning. Her death has been ruled a homicide.
The father and daughter had entered the United States on July 11 for a vacation and were supposed to return to Canada on the day her body was found. The grand jury, composed of 16 to 23 citizens, will review the prosecution's evidence to decide if there is probable cause for the case to proceed to trial. As CTV News explains, grand jury hearings are private and can include court documents and witness testimony.
The case has drawn significant attention due to the nature of the allegations and the involvement of an international suspect. The outcome of the grand jury's review will determine whether Frattolin will face trial for the charges against him.