Accused Colts Neck Killer Pleads Not Guilty, Will Remain In Jail

FREEHOLD, NJ — Paul Caneiro, the man accused of killing his brother and his brother's entire family in Colts Neck, pleaded not guilty on Friday, and waived his right to a detention hearing, a spokesman for the Monmouth County prosecutor's office confirmed to Patch.

That means Caneiro will remain in jail until his trial begins, should the case go to trial. Friday, Nov. 30 at 9 a.m. was Caneiro's first court appearance: He is accused of shooting his younger brother to death on Nov. 20, shooting and fatally stabbing his brother's wife, and stabbing their two children. Prosecutors say he then set their Colts Neck estate on fire, and then went to his own home in Ocean Twp., setting that on fire as well in a ruse attempt to make it look like he and his family were targeted.

They were not, said the prosecutor, who also said he is confident organized crime is not involved in this heinous killing, either: Paul Caneiro acted deliberately, and he acted alone, said the prosecutor.

Judge James McGann scheduled Caneiro's next court date for January 30, 2019. No trial date has been scheduled at this time.

Caneiro pleaded not guilty to four counts of murder, two of aggravated arson and two weapons charges. Caneiro's defense lawyer, Bob Honecker, maintains his client is innocent. He told the media he wanted to have Caneiro's wife and daughters testify this morning, but then said Friday morning they decided it was “safer” for the family not to attend, the APP reported.

"When an individual is charged with four counts of murder, the likelihood of him being released from detention is pretty close to zero," said defense lawyer Honecker, of why his client waived his right to a detention hearing, the Asbury Park Press reported.

Watch Caneiro's defense attorneys speak to the media below, outside the Monmouth County courthouse in Freehold Friday morning.

His defense lawyer also released this strongly-worded statement Thursday night, the day his client was charged with four counts of first-degree murder, saying Caneiro is innocent of all charges, loved his brother deeply and that he would be vindicated.

From CBS inside the courtroom Friday:

From the Asbury Park Press inside the courtroom Friday:

From the Asbury Park Press outside the courthouse:

Stay tuned for real-time details on this developing story.

Related: Lawyer For Accused Colts Neck Killer: He Will Be Vindicated

Top photo from CBS via YouTube; middle photo of Caneiro's lawyers used with permission from NBC; Paul Caneiro mugshot from the Monmouth County Jail.