Cinnaminson Man Sentenced In Murder Of Girlfriend, Her Father

CINNAMINSON, NJ — A Cinnaminson man who was found guilty of killing his girlfriend and her father has been sentenced to 60 years in state prison without the possibility of parole, Burlington County Prosecutor Robert D. Bernardi announced.

Dennis Pozniak, 29, was previously convicted by a jury on two counts of first degree murder, one count of third degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and one count of fourth degree unlawful possession of a weapon.

The Cinnaminson High School graduate with a prior charge of heroin possession and an outstanding charge of barbiturates possession, both in Camden County, had been living with his girlfriend, 24-year-old Nicole Wilson, and her father, 52-year-old Bryan Wilson, for several months at their home in the 200 block of Washington Street in Mount Holly prior to the murder.

“These were horrific crimes that he committed, and he will never again be a free man,” First Assistant Prosecutor Raymond E. Milavsky said following the sentencing. “This is a verdict that justice required.”

Bryan Wilson had come to live with his daughter and Pozniak after being fired from his job, and Pozniak had complained that his presence was causing strain on their relationship, according to testimony given during the trial.

During the trial, the jury heard testimony from a detective who told him Pozniak admitted he wanted to harm his girlfriend and her father.

Then, at about 9 a.m. on Feb. 1, 2015, a family member awoke and discovered the bodies of Nicole Wilson and her father. Police were called to the residence.

Pozniak was inside the residence at the time. He was taken to a hospital and treated for several lacerations that were believed to be self-inflicted.

According to a previous Burlington County Times report, he slashed himself 50 times and mixed pills with alcohol in an attempt to kill himself.

Autopsies performed by Burlington County Medical Examiner Dr. Ian Hood determined that death for both victims was caused by head trauma due to bludgeoning.

During the trial, Pozniak’s attorney, Timothy Farrow, had argued that his client was impaired by mental illness and substance abuse when he killed Bryan and Nicole Wilson.

He presented testimony from a clinical and forensic psychologist and a toxicologist that Pozniak didn’t intend to kill them.

The jury deliberated for a little over seven hours over the course of three days before returning the guilty verdict.

The attached image of Dennis Pozniak was provided by the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office