LAWRENCE CO. Homicide trial in third day
Another man pleaded guilty and was sentenced in the shooting.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- The trial is under way for one of the men accused in the shooting death of Torrence Respress.
Willie Smith, 64, of Stein Road, Butler, is accused in the New Year's Day 2003 shooting. Attorneys were expected to make opening arguments late Tuesday afternoon or early today. Jury selection began Monday in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court
Another man, Michael Malnar, 31, pleaded guilty Aug. 8, 2003, to aggravated assault, receiving stolen property, being a felon in possession of a firearm and discharging a firearm in city limits. He was sentenced to 10 to 40 years in prison.
What happened
Police contend that Malnar shot Respress in the legs after a verbal dispute in a Boyles Avenue home. Respress stumbled out into the street, where he was then shot by Smith, police said.
Smith told police that he only intended to hit Respress over the head with the gun, but it fired, shortly after 10 a.m. on New Year's Day. Respress died later that day at St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown.
Smith is charged with criminal homicide, discharging a firearm in the city limits and receiving stolen property. Police said they later learned the 9 mm pistol had been reported stolen in August 2001 from a home in Farrell, Pa.
Smith is being represented by Atty. Tom Leslie.
Lawrence County District Attorney Matthew Mangino and Tom Minett, assistant district attorney, are handling the prosecution.
The trial is expected to last about one week before Common Pleas Court Judge Dominick Motto.
cioffi@vindy.com