Pocono News Section

Eyewitnesses to Deadly Dispute Testify at Scranton Hearing

Eyewitnesses to Deadly Dispute Testify at Scranton Hearing - Tuesday, August 4, 2009 at 6:12PM EST

Reported by: Eric Deabill
Tuesday, Aug 4, 2009 @ 06:12pm EST
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY - A Scranton man will face trial on both first-and-third degree murder charges after a deadly fight earlier this year. Eric Becchetti was in court Tuesday afternoon for his preliminary hearing.

Becchetti was arrested four months ago. Prosecutors say he intended to kill David Churilla by repeatedly punching and kicking him in the head and chest.

Becchetti's aunt and her boyfriend witnessed the fight. They described it as vicious.

"I've seen a couple of fights in my years but nothing like this. This was uncalled for," eyewitness Jim Zaltauskas said.

The attack happened in a stairwell at a home on Hampton Street. Churilla suffered face, head and chest injuries. He died from blunt force trauma to the head.

"Dave was a quiet man. He'd never harm a person," eyewitness Sandy Skotleski said.

Prosecutors say the beating was senseless, brutal and unprovoked. It may have begun after Becchetti argued with his mother. She was dating the victim.

"It seems as though he took out his frustration maybe for that argument on poor David Churilla," Assistant District Attorney Shane Scanlon said.

Defense attorney Demetrius Fannick says all of the evidence will show the death was accidental. He points out the victim was drunk at the time of his death. He had a blood alcohol content of .333. That's three times the legal limit.

"If anything, there was a struggle and perhaps an intent to encounter each other by the way of a fight, but I don't believe the evidence will show my client intended to kill him in any way," Fannick said.