NEWTON — Accused killer Giuseppe "Joseph" Tedesco was defending himself when he shot and killed a woman after she refused to go out with him to celebrate his birthday, his attorney told a jury in Newton Tuesday.

"Joe was taking action to defend himself," the attorney, Anthony Iacullo, said without describing specifically what actions Tedesco allegedly took.

Tedesco is charged with killing Alyssa Ruggieri, 22, by shooting her six times at close range at her Hopatcong home the night of March 27, 2010. Earlier that day, authorities allege, Ruggieri sent Tedesco several text messages saying she didn’t want to see him anymore and wouldn’t join him at a party to celebrate his 25th birthday.

On the first day of the trial, Iacullo admitted his client owned the .25-caliber Beretta handgun used to shoot Ruggieri. But, he said, Tedesco had months earlier witnessed a murder and sometimes carried the gun, which was recovered from his SUV, because he feared for his safety.

Although the state plans to call about 30 witnesses, Iacullo said their testimony will not prove Tedesco should be convicted of first-degree murder.

"None were inside the home when the incident took place," he said.

Tedesco is accused of driving to Ruggieri’s home on Durban Avenue in Hopatcong, about a mile from his own home, at about 9 p.m. the night of the killing and parking several blocks away. He then walked to her house, where he confronted her, authorities said.

Police were called to Tedesco’s home on Rapalyea Road around 9:30 p.m. on a report from his mother, Nicolette Reckhow, that her son was suffering from a gunshot wound to his hand.

Police said that when they arrived, Reckhow told them Tedesco was taken by his stepfather to a nearby hospital and that the shooting occurred at Ruggieri’s home.

In her opening arguments Tuesday, Sussex County Assistant Prosecutor Seanna Pappas said Tedesco accidentally shot himself when Ruggieri tried to protect herself from his attack.

He had become enraged after being rebuffed by Ruggieri, Pappas said.

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"This case is about obsession, possession, destruction and execution," she told the jury.

Pappas called any self-defense claims by Tedesco "preposterous."

"This wasn’t an accident. This was not a suicide or self-defense," she said. "He went there to kill her."

The first witness of the day was Ruggieri’s mother, Michelle Ruggieri, who described her daughter as a computer analyst who had gotten her first job in October after graduating from The College of New Jersey.

Michelle Ruggieri said her daughter never had a "romantic thing" with her accused killer, describing them only was friends.

The courtroom was filled with spectators for the opening of the trial, which was originally scheduled to start Oct. 30 but postponed due to Hurricane Sandy.

The trial is expected to resume today before Superior Court Judge N. Peter Conforti.

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