John Allen Ditullio: Neo-Nazi Tattoos Covered for Murder Trial

by Scott Wu | December 9, 2009 at 10:26 am

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John Allen Ditullio, the self-proclaimed Neo-Nazi and alleged murderer, will wear makeup covering his tattoos during his court appearances. John Allen Ditullio has a 6-inch swastika under his right ear; and barbed wire down the right side of his face.

John Allen Ditullio stands accused of breaking into neighbor Patricia Wells' home, stabbing two and killing 17-year old Kristofer King, in a racially motivated hate crime.

The young man allegedly killed by John Allen Ditullio was black and frequently visited the home of the Wells family, who are white. Ditullio's lawyers successfully argued in pre-trial that his visible neo-nazi tattoos would prejudice the jury.

Ditullio's neo-nazi tattoos will be covered up with heavy makeup as requested by his lawyer, who claimed the racist markings would would bias jurors' opinion. Florida taxpayers will foot the bill for the elaborate makeup in order to ensure that Ditullio gets a fair try.

John Allen Ditullio, 23, is accused of breaking into the home of Patricia Wells in 2006. He allegedly stabbed Wells, and killed 17-year-old Kristofer King, who was a friend of Wells' son. Authorities have described it as a hate crime.

Wells told authorities the neo-Nazi group next door harassed her for weeks before the stabbing, shouting racial epithets and threatening her life. She had a black friend who sometimes visited her home, which infuriated them. In addition, King and Wells' son were gay, Halkitis said, and open about their sexuality, which also drew the neo-Nazis' ire.

The state is required to pay a cosmetologist $150 a day for the duration of Ditullio's trial.

Any tattoos Ditullio had before his arrest won't be covered, such as a small cross under his right eye. Earlier this week, he wore a neatly pressed blue shirt and gray slacks yet several tattoos on his hands and wrists were still visible.

Photo of John Allen Ditullio at the trial with the makeup.