FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. (WJBK) -
A brutal baseball bat murder shocked metro Detroit and helped to spark the crackdown on synthetic marijuana. Now the two young men accused in that attack are heading to trial.
With their arms and hands shackled, 19-year-old Tucker Cipriano and 20-year-old Mitchell Young were escorted into 47th District Court around 9:30 Friday morning. The two co-defendants appeared young and timid, dressed in their orange jail house garb. Family and friends packed the courtroom. The testimony was hard to listen to.
Dr. Reuben Ortiz-Reyes performed the autopsy on Robert Ciprinao.
"Because he was still alive breathing, at the time the hemorrhage went into a lung and actually he drowned in his own blood."
The autopsy revealed 52-year-old Robert Cipriano suffered multiple injuries to his head and his face and he tried to defend himself from the brutal attack.
Two Farmington Hills police detectives also took the stand during the preliminary exam. While describing the bloody scene, Cipriano couldn't hold back his tears.
"There was blood spatter on the walls, blood all over the floor, and in the kitchen where Mr. Cipriano was laying, there was also blood on the cabinets," said Richard Webby.
"It was very emotional. He broke down on multiple occasions. He was crying. He was sobbing, and when his father's name was mentioned or his sister was mentioned, he lost it," said Mitchell Ribitwer, Cipriano's attorney.
Cipriano's mother, Rose, and his brother, Sal, also suffered severe injuries during the attack. They are still recovering.
In statements to police, Cipriano and Young are pointing the finger at each other.
After two hours of testimony, Judge Marla Parker ruled there is enough evidence for the two to stand trial on all charges, which includes first-degree premeditated murder, first-degree felony murder and assault with intent to murder.
"It's not a surprising thing that the case would be bound over against Mr. Young and that all the charges that he was initially charged with would result in charges now in Circuit Court to go to trial, but that doesn't mean that he's going to be found guilty of any of those charges," said Michael McCarthy, Young's attorney.
"The statements can't be used against the two co-defendants, in other words, Tucker Cipriano's statement cannot be used against Mitch Young and Mitch Young's statements can't be used against Tucker Ciprinao unless the testify. The likelihood is there'll be two juries or two separate trials," Ribitwer said.
The two are being held without bond. A tentative arraignment has been set for June 19.
Meanwhile at the YMCA off Farmington Road where Rose Cipriano used to come to swim, the Cipriano Classic 5K Fun Run and Walk was being held Friday evening to raise money for the Cipriano Children's Trust Fund. You can make a donation to that fund by clicking here.
Tucker Cipriano with his head down in court on June 8. (Credit: WJBK | myFOXDetroit.com)
