Man, 20, pleads not guilty in slaying of off-duty Revere officer

By John R. Ellement, Globe Staff

A lawyer for the man accused of killing an off-duty Revere police officer told the media today that his client was not the shooter and charged investigators with abusing their power, in one instance making a "false statement" in a search warrant affidavit.

"We saw an investigation marred by wholesale speculation, with the police barging into people’s homes without a warrant, knocking down doors, and intimidating witnesses," defense attorney Peter Krupp said in a statement he read to reporters outside Chelsea District Court. "One has to question the validity of information gathered through such tactics."

In a courtroom packed with Revere officers in blue uniforms with black tape over their badges, Robert Iacoviello Jr., 20, pleaded not guilty. The officers took up three rows of seats and stood around the perimeter of court.

Iacoviello, a slight, short man from Revere, wore a long-sleeve white T-shirt and said nothing as he watched the proceeding from behind bulletproof glass. Judge Timothy H. Gailey ordered him held without bail.

Iacoviello is accused of killing officer Daniel Talbot, who had been drinking beer with several other off-duty Revere police officers outside Revere High School on Sept. 29.

Edmond J. Zabin, Suffolk assistant district attorney, alleged today in court that Iacoviello conspired with others to destroy the gun used in the fatal shooting. State Police investigators recovered pieces of the gun from several storm drains along Cushman Avenue and have matched ballistic evidence to Talbot’s death, Zabin said.

Iacoviello has been in custody at the Nashua Street Jail on a weapons charge and a probation violation since Oct. 1, when police searched his Thurlow Avenue apartment and found a 9mm handgun. Zabin said today that a different 9mm handgun was used to kill Talbot.

Iacoviello is the second person to be charged in connection with Talbot's slaying. Derek Lodie, 17, was charged last month with being an accessory to murder. He has pleaded not guilty.

According to prosecutors, Talbot and several other officers were sitting in the bleachers at the Revere High School athletic field. Lodie approached at 1:30 a.m. and exchanged angry words with the officers. Lodie walked away and called Iacoviello on his cellphone, prosecutors allege.

A short time later, Lodie returned and got into a heated exchange, prosecutors allege. Talbot and another officer, William Soto, began to move toward Lodie. Then Iacoviello appeared with two other men.

After Talbot was shot in the head, Soto returned fire at Iacoviello and the others, who fled the area, prosecutors allege.

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