A shattered father dissolved into tears Tuesday as images of his murdered son’s bloodied personal effects flashed on a courtroom video monitor.
Pat Comunale, 57, sobbed in the gallery as prosecutors displayed Joseph Comunale’s watch and Connecticut driver’s license, which were recovered from black garbage bags left near the trash compactor of a luxury Manhattan building.
Prosecutors say that James Rackover, 27, and his co-defendant, Larry Dilione — who will be tried separately — beat and stabbed to death Comunale on Nov. 13, 2016, inside Rackover’s apartment after a drug-fueled party.
The men then frantically tried to clean up the gruesome crime scene, discarding Comunale’s clothes, broken gold chain necklace and wallet, authorities allege.
Prosecutor Rachel Ehrhardt introduced dozens of pieces of evidence Tuesday while questioning NYPD Det. Michelle Gangi.
The detective, who vouchered the evidence, held up each item for the panel to examine, including a blood-soaked sheet she pulled from a paper evidence bag.
Pat looked at the discolored sheet with a pained expression, then took off his glasses, closed his eyes and stared at the ground, tears streaming down his face.
Gangi also showed jurors an empty bottle of Clorox, two pairs of jeans, blood-stained towels and a dry-cleaning receipt with James’ name, address, and apartment number.
It’s unclear what sparked the fatal argument, but prosecutors said it was likely fueled by cocaine.
James — the adopted son and alleged lover of celebrity jeweler Jeffrey Rackover — and Dilione allegedly dumped the Hofstra grad’s body in a shallow grave behind a florist’s shop in Oceanport, NJ, lit it on fire and then buried it.
James’ lawyer, Maurice Sercarz, blamed Dilione for the barbaric slaying, admitting only to playing a role in the clean up and disposal of the body.
The trial continues Thursday.