LAWRENCE COUNTY Lawyer's illness delays homicide trial

A forensic pathologist who was to testify Friday won't be available again until late next week.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- The trial of a man accused in the shooting death of William Matthews may take longer than prosecutors first anticipated.
Lawrence County District Attorney Matthew Mangino said testimony was cut short Friday morning when defense attorney Stephen Delpero got sick and left the courtroom.
Delpero's client Carlos Thompson, 24, of New Castle, is accused of shooting Matthews just before midnight Feb. 13, 2000, on Pine Street.
Charges against him: Thompson faces charges of criminal homicide, carrying a firearm without a license and discharging a weapon in the city limits. Mangino said prosecutors had called about six witnesses and were about half done with their case when testimony stopped.
Friday's delay could mean taking the trial into a third week, Mangino said. It was originally expected to end sometime next week.
The district attorney said prosecutors won't likely end their case until they have testimony from forensic pathologist Dr. Karl Williams, who was scheduled to be in court Friday. Williams won't be available to testify again until Thursday, Mangino said.
Injuries testimony: Williams is expected to talk about Matthews' injuries, which included being shot once near the heart and once in a shoulder, prosecutors said during opening arguments.
Authorities believe the shooting stemmed from an ongoing argument the two men had over $40 Thompson owed Matthews.