Pocono News Section

First Witnesses Called in Stephen Scher Re-Trial

First Witnesses Called in Stephen Scher Re-Trial - Tuesday, March 4, 2008 at 11:14PM EST

Reported by: Eric Deabill
Tuesday, Mar 4, 2008 @11:14pm EST
MONTROSE, SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY - Opening statements and the first witnesses took the stand Tuesday in the murder re-trial of Doctor Stephen Scher. Jurors heard testimony from a total of 13 people, including two witnesses who have died since the first trial in 1997.

There were no bombshell developments. Most of the witnesses had previously testified in the late 1990s. Scher is accused of killing his friend Martin Dillon during a hunting trip in 1976. The focus of Tuesday's testimony started to center on a motive.

In his opening statement, prosecutor Pat Blessington said Scher "violently" killed his best friend by pointing a 16 gauge shotgun at Dillon's heart and pulling the trigger. After the murder, Blessington said Scher told lie after lie after lie in order to get to Dillon's wife and kids. Blessington said "it was a stage show, written, produced and directed by the defendant." Investigators say Scher wanted to be with Dillon's wife and would stop at nothing to get what he wanted.

"I'm just sorry this had to happen again. We didn't really need another trial. It's just my opinion," Nancy Fray said.

Fray was one of the 13 witnesses who gave testimony Tuesday. She was a neighbor of Martin Dillon and testified that right before the murder, she saw Scher and Dillon's wife, Patricia, together all the time and possibly involved in an affair.

Dillon's friend Kendell Strawn also testified, saying Martin Dillon gave his wife a choice of who to be with and when she rejected Scher, "he had looks of pure jealousy and hate."

"It's hard to explain something unless you've seen it yourself, but it was a look of extreme hate like you could not believe," Strawn said.

Defense lawyer Joshua Lock did not cross-examine any of the witnesses who were called Tuesday and the testimony moved along fast. In his opening statements, Lock said ballistic evidence will prove the shooting was accidental and as for Scher's lies over the years, he said "the lies are not evidence of guilt, the lies are evidence of fear."

The family of Martin Dillon was in the courtroom for a second day. They again declined comment, but witnesses who took the stand had nothing but nice things to say about the victim.

"Marty was just an average good guy with extreme intelligence. Marty was a true friend," Strawn said.

"He was great. He was a real great guy. I really, really liked him. He was very nice," Fray said.

More witnesses are expected to be called in the case beginning Wednesday morning at 9:00 AM. There are early indications that Wednesday may be a shortened day of testimony.