Fotis Dulos, girlfriend appear before judge in New Canaan disappearance case

Fotis Dulos, the estranged husband of a missing New Canaan woman, and his girlfriend were in court Friday during two separate hearings.
Michelle Troconis and Dulos have been charged with evidence tampering and hindering prosecution in connection to the case. Security cameras captured Troconis and Fotis Dulos throwing out what appeared to be that evidence.
Jennifer Dulos was last seen May 24. Police found evidence of a crime scene in her New Canaan home and items with her blood on them in trash cans in Hartford.
Troconis' hearing lasted less than a minute. Troconis pleaded not guilty to the latest tampering with evidence charge. She is due back in court Oct. 25.
Earlier today, Fotis Dulos went before a judge with his attorney's associate Kevin Smith representing him.
State's attorney Rich Colangelo spoke at the hearing and brought up Dulos' recent comments to a Greek media outlet about Jennifer Dulos' mental health. Colangelo said it was a clear violation of the gag order in the case.
However, the defense argued that the statements Dulos made to the Greek blogger were not barred to the order.
The judge stated that his comments were in fact a violation of the gag order, but that due to an appeal filed by Fotis Dulos' attorney, Norm Pattis, the judge could not make a ruling or decision in the matter until the Supreme Court modifies or vacates the appeal.
The judge warned Dulos that the gag order is still in effect.
Judge John Blawie agreed, but declined to do anything because the gag order is on appeal with the state Supreme Court. Blawie warned Dulos to follow the terms of the gag order going forward.
Both sides then moved on to the motion to dismiss, which was the primary reason for today's appearance. Smith argued that Dulos can't be charged with hindering prosecution because that requires some other felony. He said the tampering charge doesn't hold up because there's no evidence to back it up.
Colangelo shot back at those claims, saying they fail constitutionally and called the whole thing a waste of time.
"We could go back and forth with hyperbole all we want," says Colangelo. There was a warrant issued in this case. His motion to be dismissed should be denied.
The judge didn't rule today and says he will consider the arguments. He says the issue will likely be revisited when Dulos is back in court Nov. 6