Trial begins 7 years after NJ man accused of killing family, torching 2 homes

A long-delayed quadruple murder trial in New Jersey is finally underway more than seven years after Paul Caneiro was arrested for allegedly killing four family members and setting their house on fire.

Caneiro, 59, is facing a jury as prosecutors talked about the crime that was allegedly motivated by money on the first day of the trial on Monday, Jan. 12.

He is accused of carrying out a shooting and stabbing rampage in November of 2018 that killed his younger brother and business partner, Keith Caneiro, as well as Keith’s wife and their two young children.

“He stabbed his niece Sophia 17 times over her entire 45 pound body,” Assistant Prosecutor Nicole Wallace explained.

After the attacks, Caneiro allegedly set the family’s mansion in Colts Neck, New Jersey, on fire as well as his own house in Ocean Township the very same day.

Officials allege that Caneiro set both houses on fire to make it appear as though the entire family had been targeted.

“He did not set any house on fire. And, he certainly did not brutally murder the family members that, you will hear, he loved and cherished and adored so much,” defense attorney Monika Mastellone said.

Caneiro maintains his innocence with the defense team faulting authorities for fixating on him and not investigating another brother who also stood to benefit from a $3 million life insurance policy that Keith had.

At times, Caneiro appeared upset in court and was seen wiping his eyes.

“They did not investigate any other suspects, even obvious ones, and they searched for evidence to support their theory,” Mastellone said.

An accountant who spoke with Keith Caneiro the night before the murders was among the state’s first witnesses to take the stand.

His road to the trial hit a lot of delays because of the COVID pandemic and legal challenges over evidence.

Caneiro has been in jail since the murders. He was charged with more than a dozen counts of murder, aggravated arson, theft and other crimes. If he is convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life without the possibility of parole on just the murder charge.

Testimony is scheduled to continue on Tuesday with the trial expected to run well into March.