A Johnstown man charged with choking to death his IUP fraternity brother in February will head to trial.
At a preliminary hearing this morning, charges of criminal homicide and aggravated assault against 19-year-old Brady DiStefano were bound for court. He is accused of strangling 20-year-old Caleb Zweig of Rockville, Maryland. The two were involved in a fight on the night of February 3rd in the 800 block of Wayne Avenue. During today’s hearing, Trevor King, an eyewitness to the fight, testified that DiStefano and Zweig were arguing about something, and when he turned around, Zweig was on the ground on his back, and DiStefano had his hands in the neck and chest area. He also testified that he pulled DiStefano off of Zweig and stayed with Zweig until the ambulance arrived.
DiStefano’s attorney, Thomas Dickey, said in his closing statement that the testimony of forensic pathologist, Dr. Ashley Zezulik of Forensic DX, did not have scientific evidence that he was strangled, which was the cause of death listed in the coroner’s report. Indiana County District Attorney Patrick Dougherty said in his closing statement that she stated that there was no other reason that Zweig died other than strangulation, and that other medical issues were not involved.
District Judge George Thachick bound all the charges for the court of common pleas. No word yet on when that trial will take place. DiStefano is free on $50,000 bail as the District Attorney’s office is seeking a maximum charge of third-degree murder, which is a bailable offense.
(Brady DiStefano leaving court with his attorney, Thomas Dickey. Photo by Josh Widdowson)
