New murder trial against New Jersey man for stabbing sister in 2013

A Bergen County man who pleaded guilty to stabbing his sister to death in Washington Township as a teenager in 2013 had his conviction overturned after a judge ruled that his Miranda rights were violated during his interrogation.

Travis Gallo, 28, will stand trial following Wednesday's decision by the Bergen County Court of Appeals. Gallo, who was 17 at the time of the attack, was originally convicted of first-degree murder, as well as obstruction and weapons possession, and was sentenced to 50 years in prison in 2022.

According to court documents, Gallo told authorities he had been thinking about killing his 21-year-old sister, Teia, since the two had an argument in November 2013. On Dec. 26, he kicked in his sister's door and stabbed her about 109 times.

The court agreed with the original ruling that Gallo, who had been in special education since kindergarten, was competent to stand trial, but Wednesday's ruling said he should have been allowed to speak privately with his father, Robert, before being barred from appearing at the police interview where he confessed to the murder.