Key Witness in Framingham Murder Trial Dies

Robert Moccia, a government witness in his brother's ongoing first-degree murder case, died Monday evening in New Hampshire, his brother's attorney confirmed Tuesday. He was 52.

Steven Boozang, Paul Moccia's attorney, declined to comment how the witness' death would effect his client's trial, but extended his condolences.

"It's just a tragedy for the family that's gone through a lot the last few years," Boozang said in a phone interview.

The prosecution alleges that Moccia aided his brother in a 2009 slaying of a Framingham man, Angel Antonio Ramirez, by following Paul Moccia to Framingham to drop off Ramirez's truck. Robert Moccia then drove his brother back to Dedham, where the two separated, according to his statements to police.

The Norfolk County District Attorney's Office did not immediately return a call for comment.

Statements and grand jury testimoney given by Robert Moccia likely won't be allowed in at either man's trial, since defense attorneys didn't have an opportunity to cross-examine.

In another interview in June 2009 with police, Robert Moccia stated his brother told him that he shot Ramirez with a .357 Magnum in the back, and while they returned the truck to Framingham, Paul Moccia's co-defendant Daniel Bradley, of Westwood, was disposing of the body.

Paul Moccia's trial is scheduled for April.

Last month, a Plymouth man with a personal connection to Bradley was that he helped dispose of the body.