NEW CASTLE Murder trial centers on respect issue

Attorneys say the men had an ongoing feud over $40.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- William Matthews died for respect.
But just whose respect he died for is in question.
Lawrence County prosecutors say Carlos Thompson, 24, of New Castle, the man accused of killing Matthews, felt he was being disrespected by Matthews and shot him because of it. Thompson's attorney Stephen Delpero says it was the other way around and Thompson was defending himself.
Jurors in Thompson's murder trial heard opening statements Wednesday in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court.
Thompson is accused of criminal homicide, carrying a firearm without a license and discharging a weapon in the city limits.
"What you are going to hear is a story of pride and respect that came to a very deadly ending," Thomas Minett, assistant district attorney, told jurors.
Attorneys on both sides agree the two men had an ongoing dispute over $40 that Thompson owed Matthews.
An argument over the money erupted in a car the two men were riding in just before midnight Feb. 13 and Matthews threatened to beat up Thompson, Minett said.
The car, which had four other people in it, stopped at a Pine Street home. Matthews went inside and removed his coat and jewelry and came out looking for a fight, Minett said.
Thompson, at first, refused to get out of the car, but then exited and shot Matthews twice without warning, Minett said.
More shots: A third man, Fletcher Hudson Jr., then came out of the house with a gun and started firing, shooting Thompson in the stomach, the assistant district attorney said.
Charges of attempted homicide and recklessly endangering another person are pending against Hudson for his part in the shooting, Minett said.
Thompson's attorney says that's not what happened.
Defense: Delpero said Thompson was lured to the Pine Street home by Matthews, who had arranged for Hudson and others to be there with guns.
"This is not a bunch of innocent young kids out for a drive on a Saturday night," Delpero said.
Matthews came out of the house with three men, including Hudson, who started firing at the car, Delpero said.
One witness is expected to testify that she was hit by flying glass after the first shot was fired. Delpero pointed out that shot could have only come from Hudson's direction because the woman was in the car with Thompson.
"If Mr. Thompson fired the first shot, he was firing the wrong way," he said.
Delpero doesn't deny Thompson shot Matthews, but he says it was in self-defense.
"No person has to sit in a vehicle so they can be taken from that vehicle and be shot. Mr. Thompson was in fear from these people and he had a right to be in fear of these people," he said.
Delpero added that the shooting had little to do with money and everything to do with disrespect.
"This was about respect Mr. Matthews thought he was owed. It wasn't about $40. When they took his body to the morgue, he had $500 on him," he said.
Hudson and the other witnesses are expected to testify in the weeklong trial.