Jury Selection to begin in Attempted Murder Trial of Brielle Restaurant Owner

Jury selection is slated to begin Wednesday in the trial of the owner of the Sand Bar Restaurant in Brielle on attempted murder and other charges, according to the Asbury Park Press. 

64-year-old Louis Cataldo is accused of shooting restaurant manager Nicole Griffin in the parking lot around 1 a.m., June 18, 2013, as she left work.

Cataldo, a retired Essex County sheriff's detective, then barricaded himself inside his home at the Bay Point Harbor condominium complex in Point Pleasant during a 13 hour standoff with members of the Ocean County SWAT Team, who he allegedly fired at until being taken into custody. Neighbors were evacuated as the incident unfolded.

While none of the SWAT Team members were injured, Griffin suffered a bullet wound to her back and was hospitalized for six days. She underwent surgery at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune.

Cataldo's trial will take place in Monmouth County Superior Court before Judge Francis J. Vernoia. He's also charged with two counts of possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, aggravated assault and resisting arrest. Charges in both Ocean and Monmouth Counties have been consolidated into one case.

Once a jury is in place, the trial is tentatively expected to begin the week of June 8.

Matthew Bogner, assistant Monmouth County prosecutor, will present the state's case. Freehold defense attorney Charles Clark will represent Cataldo at the trial.

Meanwhile, Griffin has filed a civil suit against Cataldo seeking compensation for complications she continues to suffer from the shooting.

The suit alleges Cataldo had been drinking heavily at the restaurant on June 17 into the early morning. When Cataldo and Griffin were walking to their cars after closing the eatery, he allegedly pulled out a gun and fired at Griffin multiple times, then fled.