The man charged in connection with the death of a fellow IUP student pleaded “no contest” yesterday as his jury trial was scheduled to get underway.
According to Indiana County District Attorney Robert Manzi, Brady DiStefano entered the “no contest” plea, and the single remaining charge of aggravated assault that was left from the appellate court was reduced to a charge of involuntary manslaughter. DiStefano was charged with fighting with Caleb Zweig of Rockville, Maryland, a fellow IUP student and fraternity brother with DiStefano, on February 3rd of 2017, and died a few hours later at Indiana Regional Medical Center.
DiStefano was originally charged with criminal homicide and aggravated assault, but then-president judge William Martin threw the case out for lack of evidence. An appeal to the State Superior Court ruled that there was enough evidence for charges of aggravated assault. Later on, Martin ruled that the jury could not hear evidence that DiStefano’s role in the fight lead to Zweig’s death and that the jury could not hear testimony from a forensic pathologist who performed the autopsy. Those rulings were also overturned by State Superior Court.
Manzi took the case over when he was elected district attorney and called it a tough situation.
A “no contest” plea is not an admission of guilt but by state law is still considered a conviction. He will be sentenced June 16th at 9:00 AM.
Comments