NORWALK, Conn. (WCBS 880) — A public official in Connecticut has been charged with murder after a man was shot to death inside a home she owns Thursday.
Norwalk Police were called to the home on Nelson Avenue around noon for a report of a domestic disturbance.
Responding officers found 54-year-old Kurt Lametta suffering from multiple gunshot wounds inside the residence. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Lametta's landlord Ellen Wink, 61, who lives next door, was detained at the scene and charged with murder.
It's not clear what led to the deadly confrontation.
During a bail hearing, the state's attorney said the evidence is strong that Wink went to her tenant at his residence, shot him five times, left, called police and confessed.
The attorney told the judge Wink is a dangerous person who let her anger guide her finger.
Wink, who once ran for state representative, is the city's deputy Republican registrar of voters and served as city clerk from 2009 to 2011.
Neighbors describe Wink as a kind person.
"I went to Norwalk High School with Ellen. I was a year ahead of her. She seemed like a nice enough person. She'd help my mom out, offer to do things, you know. She'd always been a very nice person," Cosmo Scarlotta, who lives across the street, told WCBS 880's Sean Adams. "A very helpful person."
"The week before last I talked to her, me and her talked, so I think it was self defense," another neighbor said. "She was defending herself, that's what I believe. She went to the courthouse in Stamford and tried to get him out."
In September, police arrested Wink for allegedly locking out her tenant, who was not named but was reportedly described by officials as a 54-year-old man, and tossing his belongings in the trash.
The victim's friend, Joey DeMeglio, said Lametta was in a months' long dispute with Wink.
"He didn't deserve this by far. It was over eviction. He wasn't leaving, she wanted him out of there and this is the end result," he said. "He did say she was a little off the wall, mentally. For a landlord to throw away your stuff while you're working, come home and your belongings are in the trash. There's something wrong there. Landlords aren't supposed to do that."
"He wasn't abusive physically to her, that I know of," he added.
Defense attorney Kevin Black said it is too early to get into specifics, but when asked if self defense is a possibility he replied, "Sure, it's a defense to the charge of murder, so, sure, could be."
"There are defenses to this case I believe and we're going to explore all of them," Black said. "I'm not going to go into the specifics of it only that I believe that there will be facts that will be able to be used to her benefit."
Wink is being held on $1 million bond and is due in court on Feb. 1.
Police said there is no danger to the public and stressed this was an "isolated incident."
The investigation remains ongoing.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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