Indiana County President Judge William Martin yesterday ordered a hearing on a defense motion for an extension of time for further proceedings in the James Lantz homicide trial, and on possible penalties against the prosecution for failing to comply with an April 4th court order to provide discovery of evidence in the case.
The 27-year-old Lantz is charged with a single count of criminal homicide in the shooting death of his neighbor, Derrick Davis, last June outside of Davis’ home on Lovejoy Road in Green Township. Lantz confronted Davis after Davis’ girlfriend went to Lantz’s home after the couple had been arguing. Police say that as the two argued, Lantz pulled out a sawed-off shotgun and shot Davis in the chest. He died at the scene and Lantz told police he had intended to fire into the ground or the air, but he panicked when Davis began to approach him.
In his order yesterday, Judge Martin scheduled the hearing for May 14th. A previous hearing determined that Dr. Cyril Wecht, acting on behalf of Lantz, needs the state police ballistics report in order to complete his own report. The defense has asked for more time to file Wecht’s report, and Martin says he will also decide what sanctions, if any, will be imposed on the prosecution.
Jury selection for Lantz’s trial is scheduled for June 25th.
