2 1/2 years after their deaths, the accused killer's trial is nearly at hand

Timothy Verrill, center, is accused in the killings of Christine Sullivan,of Farmington; and Jenna Pellegrini of Barrington.

The Farmington man whose home was the site of a double homicide in 2017 and who is facing at least five years in federal prison for drug trafficking has been named as a potential witness for both the prosecution and the defense in the upcoming murder trial against a Dover man accused in the killings.

Timothy Verrill, 37, a longtime friend of Dean V. Smoronk who formerly owned the Meaderboro Road residence where the killings occurred, is accused of bludgeoning and stabbing to death Smoronk's longtime girlfriend Christine Sullivan, 48, of Farmington; and her friend, Jenna Pellegrini, 32, of Barrington on Jan. 27, 2017.

Dean Smoronk (Courtesy photo)

Evidence in what prosecutors characterize as a "complex" case is expected to include thousands of pages of documents as well as dozens of CDs containing audio recordings and photographs, even an Alexa voice assistant. The case summary alone is 37 pages.

Smoronk's guilty plea for trafficking meth was accepted by a federal judge earlier this month. His sentencing is set for Dec. 17. He could be sent to prison for anywhere from five to 40 years.

Meanwhile, Verrill, who remains incarcerated while awaiting trial, could face life in prison without parole. He has been charged with alternative counts of first-degree murder, second-degree murder (knowing), and second-degree murder (reckless) as well as five counts of falsifying physical evidence.

Scores of civilians, including many local residents have also been named as potential witnesses as well as dozens of state and local police officers and expert witnesses from as far away as Georgia and Virginia.

DNA experts are expected to be among the mix with recent motions by defense and prosecution attorneys over alleged DNA sampling from Sullivan and Verrill said to be present on a hat.

Much of the evidence that may be presented during trial remains sealed.

The trial was originally supposed to have played out last November before it was postponed till May and then postponed again till next month.

While most jury selections take a couple of days or less a full two weeks have been set aside for the Verrill trial.

Opening arguments aren't expected until mid-October. The trial is expected to last about six weeks.