Bench warrant issued for witness in slaying

Bench warrant issued for witness in slaying

UNIONTOWN, Pa. (AP) — A bench warrant has been issued for witness who failed to appear in a homicide trial in the slaying of a man killed at a western Pennsylvania housing complex in 2012.

Prosecutors said 32-year-old Christopher Teets was scheduled to testify Thursday in the Fayette County trial of 28-year-old Kurtavius Smith of Uniontown.

Detective James Caccimelio told The (Uniontown) Herald-Standard that he is also wanted on a separate warrant for failure to appear for sentencing in a theft case last month.

Smith is charged in the May 2012 slaying of 28-year-old Marlin Crawford of Uniontown near Pershing Court. Authorities allege in the criminal complaint that Smith had sent text messages to an ex-girlfriend expressing dismay that she was dating the victim, and in one text threatening to kill him.