Piri murder trial scheduled for five weeks beginning in March 2027

By Shawn Cunningham
© 2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC

The second-degree murder case against Florida doctor Jozsef Piri continues to move forward almost seven years to the day after Boston truck driver Roberto Fonseca-Rivera was found dead from bullet wounds in a produce delivery truck along Rt. 103 in Rockingham. Piri’s trial now is scheduled for five weeks in March and April of 2027.

In a brief hearing in Windham County Criminal Court on Monday, Judge John R. Treadwell asked defense and prosecution lawyers if there were any outstanding discovery items that needed to be resolved and discussed questionnaires proposed by each side for use during jury selection. Treadwell also reminded the attorneys that any pre-trial motions are due by Tuesday, Dec. 1.

Defense attorney Adam Hescock told Treadwell that he wanted to discuss with the state’s attorney a reducing the prosecution list of more than 300 witnesses. Treadwell urged him to do that and to come back to the court with a motion if needed.

According to a scheduling order signed back in April, Treadwell set jury selection for March 4 and 5 with the trial beginning on March 9 and running four days per week for five weeks. The order also tentatively schedules a two-day hearing for January or early February for motions to exclude specific evidence.

Treadwell asked that both sides send him their jury questionnaires in a word document format so he could issue a list of suggested questions in the next few days. Treadwell said he wanted to get the questionnaires out as soon as possible, expected that a large number of prospective jurors would write that the long trial would pose too great a financial burden. He added that “the court will be generous in accepting those responses.”

Long road to this point

F onseca-Rivera was shot on Nov. 1, 2019 while driving south on Rt. 103. Piri had also been driving south on Rt. 103,  returning to his Connecticut home from his second home in Londonderry.

After a two-year investigation, Vermont State Police charged Piri in Florida, where he had moved from Connecticut after the shooting. The case has seen a number of delays prompting Windham County State’s Attorney (then a deputy) Steven Brown to express concern that it was “lingering” in 2023.

Last year, Treadwell was prepared to set a trial date for this October and November, but co-counsel for the defense John Amabile had a particularly difficult homicide defense in December and felt that schedule would not work. So the trial date was pushed off. But then this August, Amabile withdrew from the case saying that Piri had decided to discharge him.

Piri remains free on $250,000 bail.

Telegraph articles about the legal proceedings around the shooting:

• Boston trucker apparently shot dead on Rt. 103
• Driver’s death ruled homicide; police seek video
• Police press for more clues in Rt. 103 homicide
• Police ask public to ID pickup truck
• Police arrest Londonderry 2nd-homeowner in 2019 Rockingham murder
• Murder suspect returned to Vermont, to be arraigned Monday
• Rt. 103 murder suspect to be released on bail
• Judge rejects Piri’s defense subpoena in Rt. 103 murder case
• Prosecutor concerned over ‘lingering’ Rt. 103 murder case
• Jozsef Piri’s 2nd degree murder case inches toward trial
• Judge in 4-year-old murder case aims to pick up pace
• Judge clears way for Piri murder trial early next year