Judge to determine if man accused of stabbing FDNY EMS Captain to death mentally fit to stand trial
KEW GARDENS, Queens (WABC) -- It was a chilling and deadly act of violence more than two years ago when FDNY EMS Captain Allison Russo, a 25-year veteran of the department and September 11th first responder, was stabbed to death for no apparent reason as she left her station house in Astoria to pick up food.
On Wednesday, there was a crucial hearing to determine whether the man charged with her killing is mentally fit to stand trial.
First responders in Queens rallied behind Danielle Fuocco, the daughter of Alison Russo, who was brutally murdered when she was stabbed over 20 times in September 2022 allegedly by Peter Zisopolous.
At the time, Russo was working for the FDNY as an EMS Lieutenant.
Jury selection in the Peter Zisopolous trial was supposed to start this week, but it has been delayed after his lawyers claimed he's unfit to stand trial.
The defense says a pair of doctors has determined their client, who they say is schizophrenic, is not fit to stand trial.
Just two days ago, Dr. Allen Perry, a psychologist, reexamined the 36-year-old.
On Wednesday, he stood by his original finding.
In court, Perry called the defendant 'psychotic and delusional.'
At one point, Perry revealed Zisopoulos believes the video showing the entire unprovoked attack is 'fake' and was created by authorities using "doppelgängers" of himself and Russo.
But the prosecution fired back, saying in 2023 Zisopoulos was found fit to stand trial.
Perry testified that the defendant understands the judicial process and his legal options, and called him a 'bright man.'
During Monday's examination, Perry said Zisopoulos told him he did not want to pursue the psychiatric defense and didn't want to plead guilty to a crime he didn't commit, adding he only needed to convince one juror of that to win the case.
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