BORDENTOWN CITY: Castagna trial to continue Tuesday

By Geoffrey Wertime, Staff Writer
The defense has begun to call its witnesses in the trial of suspended Bordentown City Police Chief Phil Castagna, court officials confirmed today, Thursday.
    The prosecution rested its case Tuesday, and the defense spent Wednesday and Thursday talking to its witnesses, according to published reports. The proceedings are expected to continue Tuesday, March 24.
    Mr. Castagna, 47, is charged with conspiracy to commit murder and arson in an alleged plot to kill his ex-wife, Joyce Leopold, in a 2003 fire that damaged the back of the couple’s house in Burlington. Ms. Leopold, who was separated from her husband when the fire occurred, was not injured in the blaze.
    The state’s main witness, Gary Hall, spent a number of days testifying about conversations he allegedly had with Mr. Castagna. While Mr. Hall testified with audio recordings he had made of some of their conversations, none of the tapes had the voice of Mr. Castagna speak about killing anyone, but did feature phrases such as “accomplish the mission.” 
    Before and throughout the proceedings, Robin Lord, Mr. Castagna’s attorney, has maintained Mr. Castagna’s innocence.
    “Phil is not guilty, and they won’t be able to prove otherwise,” she said earlier in the trial. “Both (Mr. Castagna) and the (prosecutor’s) office have been duped by a convicted criminal who made this thing up for his own personal gain.”
    Mr. Hall is serving a five-year prison sentence in Florida on an unrelated conviction. From the beginning, Mr. Castagna has maintained the Burlington County prosecutor’s office paid Mr. Hall about $40,000 to set him up.