Slurred Speech A Point Of Contention In Trial Of Cinnaminson Man Accused Of Killing Girlfriend, Father

Cinnaminson, NJ -- The trial of a Cinnaminson man accused of killing his girlfriend and his father while he lived with them last year is underway.

On Wednesday, the court heard a recorded interview with 29-year-old Dennis Pozniak, conducted by detectives at Virtua Memorial Hospital after the alleged murders, the Burlington County Times reports.

Pozniak’s speech was slurred, and the recording was hard to understand, but jurors were given a transcript of the interview, in which he admitted to mixing Xanax and Valium with wine in an attempt to kill himself, according to the report.

His attorney points to the slurred speech and his admission as reasons to dismiss the validity of the interview, but First Assistant Prosecutor Raymond Milavsky says Pozniak directly answers all the questions, according to the report.

In the interview, Pozniak says 52-year-old Bryan Wilson had come to live with his daughter, 24-year-old Nicole, and Pozniak after he had been fired from his job, and his presence was causing a strain on Pozniak’s romantic relationship with Nicole Wilson, according to the report. A detective previously testified that Pozniak admitted he wanted to harm his girlfriend and her father.

Pozniak has been indicted 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 the two for several months at their home in the 200 block of Washington Street in Mount Holly.

Nicole Wilson was a decorated specialist with the Air National Guard and was stationed at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.

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

Police were called to the residence at about 9 a.m. on Feb. 1 by a family member who awoke and discovered the bodies.

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

Pozniak remains lodged in the Burlington County Jail on $1 million bail during the proceedings.

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