There was no question that Anna Maria Tolomello killed her business partner and boyfriend two years ago in their Hilltown home, but a Bucks County jury was ready to decide if it was self defense.
But, just before trial was about to start Monday in Bucks County Court, Tolomello pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and other charges under a negotiated agreement that recommended she serve 18 to 40 years in state prison.
Bucks County prosecutor Christopher Rees acknowledged the plea was a surprise and that Tolomello's defense attorneys did not give a reason why she changed her mind about moving forward with a trial. He added the agreement was reached with the consent of Giovanni Gallina's adult children, who attended the proceedings.
"The most important thing in any case, certainly this case, is to accomplish the goal, which is justice," Rees said after the hearing before Common Pleas Court Judge Gary Gilman. "We think this did result in a just outcome."
Rees declined to comment on what prosecutors believed was Tolomello's motive for killing Gallina, 65, until sentencing, which Gilman deferred for 60 days.
Anna Maria Tolomello claimed self-defense. Prosecution was prepared to show otherwise
Tolomello, 50, is accused of fatally shooting Gallina, her boyfriend who also co-owned a Chalfont pizzeria with Tolomello, then attempting to cover up the crime by hiring someone to dig a hole where she planned to bury him.
Attorney argues self-defense in murder Attorneys push self-defense in case of killing of owner of Pina's Pizza in Chalfont
Tolomello admitted to shooting Gallina in the side of his head on March 16, 2022. But defense attorneys, Antonetta Stancu and Daniel Schatz, were prepared to argue it was self-defense. They said Tolomello shot Gallina when he was choking her in their bed .
After the hearing, Stancu said that the prosecution presented the plea offer to Tolomello on Monday morning and it was the "right decision for her."
"This was a complicated case from the beginning. It's one we were not looking forward to presenting in court because the facts were so complicated," Stancu said. "That being said, I think she recognizes the challenges and the fact that this was a fair offer."
As far as her client's contention that she shot Gallina in self-defense, Stancu replied: "Today she pleaded guilty to third-degree homicide that was unjustified."
Rees was prepared to argue that the self-defense theory is contradicted by Gallina’s autopsy that found he was fatally shot in the back of the head. The prosecutor wanted it made clear in the plea deal that Gallina's death was without provocation.
"We believe it was important, and factually accurate, that this was a killing without justification," Rees added. "The facts she admitted to did not include self defense."
Tolomello faced a general homicide charge and misdemeanor charges of possessing an instrument of a crime, abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence.
What happened in Hilltown between Pina's Pizza owners?
Hilltown police and county detectives allege Tolomello killed Gallina in their home in the 1400 block of North Limekiln Pike, and hired someone to dig a hole where she planned to bury his body.
Investigators found the Gallina's body wrapped in a "tarp bundle" in their home nearly two weeks after the shooting, authorities said. Tolomello allegedly told them where they could find the body, and admitted to shooting him.
Tolomello allegedly said that she shot Gallina with a .38-caliber revolver authorities found in a car on the property. She also claimed she threw out the bloody mattress in the Dumpster at Pina’s Pizza, which she and Gallina owned, according to police. The restaurant closed soon after Tolomello’s arrest and records show the property was sold in August 2022.
Tolomello said she wiped down the gun she used to get rid of fingerprints, cleaned the night stand where she retrieved the gun and disposed of the spent shell casing from the incident, court documents said.
Missing persons case turns to murder investigation
Police began an investigation two weeks after the alleged murder after Gallina's son, who lives in Italy, contacted authorities claiming that he had not heard from his father since March 16, which was unusual.
A subsequent search of phone records showed there were no outbound calls or texts from Gallina's phone after March 16, authorities said.
Tolomello told the son that Gallina went out of town on business, but she didn’t know how long he’d be gone. She refused to say where he went, and claimed he left his phone at the pizzeria. Employees at the couple’s Chalfont restaurant told investigators they had not seen Gallina in a while, authorities said.
Security camera video from the couple’s home shows a six-day gap after the night of March 16, 2022 when Gallina was killed. Video the night police say Gallina was killed show Tolomello entering the home about 9 p.m. and Gallina entered the home shortly after.
Investigators also heard from the person who claimed that Tolomello paid him $350 to dig a hole near the driveway on the property. She wanted the hole to be 7-feet long, 3-feet deep and 3-feet wide, and Tolomello would not provide any reason for needing the hole.
Tolomello allegedly said she would fill the hole up herself and then intended to pave over the hole to hide the body, authorities said.
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Girlfriend pleads guilty in 2022 murder of popular Chalfont pizza shop owner
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