A pre-trial conference was held earlier this week ahead of the scheduled jury selection on March 1 in the trial of a Nanty Glo man accused of killing Tyrone fire chief Ray E. Stringer last August.
The conference was held between prosecutors, defense attorneys and Cambria County Judge Norman Krumenacker who is set to preside over the trial.
George T. Lightcap IV, 29, was arrested shortly after the incident at the Nanty Glo VFW in the early morning hours of Aug.19. Lightcap stands accused of allegedly punching Stringer multiple times after the two had been involved in a argument at the bar inside the VFW.
Stringer had been in Nanty Glo attending events at a fireman’s convention. However, the VFW, where Stringer had gone on the night of Aug.18, was not the site of any of the official events associated with the convention.
Lightcap is charged with first-degree murder, criminal homicide and aggravated assault.
An Associated Press report yesterday said authorities contend Lightcap hit Stringer, knocking him to the ground, and continued to punch him while he was on the ground. The blows to Stringer’s head caused a brain injury that killed him, according to a pathologist, Dr. John Yerger.
He testified at an October preliminary hearing about how the 43-year-old firefighter lost his life. Yerger will appear at the upcoming trial via videotaped testimony. Cambria County District Attorney Patrick T. Kiniry said Yerger is scheduled to be out of town during the trial and the judge in the case did not want to see a delay.
DA Kiniry said he expects the prosecution to take about three days to present its case. He said he expected opening arguments to proceed as soon as the jury is seated.
Lightcap’s defense attorney Robert Davis Gleason of Johnstown said it had previously been announced that the prosecution was not seeking the death penalty in the case.
“Our position is (our client) is totally innocent and we will present (that it was) self-defense,” said Gleason.
He said plans call for the jury to go to the scene of the incident during the trial.
“We feel it is absolutely essential that the jury have a view of the premises,” said Gleason. “There are factual and legal issues that can’t be resolved without a thorough understanding of the scene.”
The incident happened just outside the bar in the foyer leading to the outer door of the VFW.
Gleason said his partner, Art McQuillan, would also be involved in Lightcap’s defense. Kiniry said assistant district attorneys Gary Costlow and Tammy Berstein would handle the trial for the prosecution.
