NYC Man Blames Tarot Card Reader for Bad Luck at Gambling, Allegedly Murders Her

Posted on: May 9, 2022, 06:38h. 

Last updated on: May 10, 2022, 10:48h.

Ed Silverstein @casinoorgedsilv Read More

Expertise: Legal, Tribal Gaming.

An alleged gambling addict fatally wounded a New York City tarot card reader last week because his luck had run out. The suspect blamed her for his gambling losses and believed her to be a witch who put a spell on him, news reports said.

Giuseppe Canzani, 41, of Queens, NY, who worked for the city of New York, repeatedly confessed to shooting Anna Torres, 51, while she was at her Queens home last Wednesday, according to the New York Post and the Daily Mail.

After hearing a knock on her door, Torres opened her front door to see Canzani was standing there. He then fired a 45-caliber silver firearm at her, the Daily Mail said. She was shot twice. One bullet struck her in the head, the report said.

She was pronounced dead at the crime scene.

Canzani left the house after the shooting. He was seen in a surveillance video walking back to his car. He was carrying a firearm, the Post said. About an hour later, he turned himself in to NYPD officers at the 106th Precinct.

Canzani was to be charged with second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon, police announced last week. During his arraignment, a judge ordered Canzani held without bail. His case was continued to May 26.

Sources Blame Gambling

Some sources believe gambling was behind the shooting.

The guy had been going to her for years,” an unnamed source revealed to the Daily Mail late last week. “He’s had bad luck for the past couple of weeks, including with gambling. He went to her house and shot her.”

But Canzani’s statements went beyond his bad luck and the shooting, Derhemi said.

“Anna told me the black chief of the NYPD wants to kill my wife. Anna is a witch,” Canzani further told an NYPD detective at the precinct, Derhemi revealed in court.

Mental Health Questioned

Kerry Katsorhis, an attorney who represents Canzani, said Canzani needs a mental health exam. The judge approved the attorney’s request for the exam.

He suffers from anxiety as well as depression. He does not have his medication,” Katsorhis told the judge when Canzani appeared in court Thursday night, the Post said.

Katsorhis is a former New York State police officer and assistant district attorney in Queens. He handles many criminal cases.

But prosecutors are confident in the case against Canzani.

“It has video surveillance evidence, witness testimony, and the defendant’s own statements,” New York Assistant District Attorney Xhulia Derhemi told the judge, the Daily Mail reported. Canzani freely spoke to police officers.

“I want to turn myself in. I’m not here to hurt you guys. I’m here because of the woman I shot,” Canzani told one NYPD officer after walking into the precinct, Derhemi said during the arraignment, the Daily Mail said.