Post by CCADP on Aug 23, 2005 6:27:40 GMT -5
Witnesses take stand in Severs trial
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
By MATT DUNN
Staff Writer
BRIDGETON -- A myriad of local residents claimed to have had seen or spoken with William Severs Jr. as little as two hours before his ex-girlfriend Tina Labriola was shot and killed.
Severs, 43, of Pittsgrove Township, is accused of shooting Labriola in the back -- fatally wounding her outside the home of her friend, Melinda Harris, near Landis Park in Vineland, on Jan. 10, 2002.
Indicted for first-degree murder, he faces the death penalty if convicted.
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In the second week of Severs' capital murder trial, prosecutors Monday attempted to use witness testimony to piece together Severs' whereabouts in the hours and days leading up to and following the shooting.
Severs' defense team, meanwhile, attempted to chip away at the testimony of the prosecutor's witnesses.
Josephine Creamer, a friend of Severs, testified she spoke with Severs the night before Labriola was killed.
She said Severs just found out Labriola was engaged.
Jealousy may have been the motive for the murder, prosecutors alleged.
"He called (her fiance) a jerk," Creamer said. "He was down in the dumps."
Edward Hackett, another friend of Severs, testified Severs called him on January 10 at about 5:45 p.m.
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
By MATT DUNN
Staff Writer
BRIDGETON -- A myriad of local residents claimed to have had seen or spoken with William Severs Jr. as little as two hours before his ex-girlfriend Tina Labriola was shot and killed.
Severs, 43, of Pittsgrove Township, is accused of shooting Labriola in the back -- fatally wounding her outside the home of her friend, Melinda Harris, near Landis Park in Vineland, on Jan. 10, 2002.
Indicted for first-degree murder, he faces the death penalty if convicted.
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In the second week of Severs' capital murder trial, prosecutors Monday attempted to use witness testimony to piece together Severs' whereabouts in the hours and days leading up to and following the shooting.
Severs' defense team, meanwhile, attempted to chip away at the testimony of the prosecutor's witnesses.
Josephine Creamer, a friend of Severs, testified she spoke with Severs the night before Labriola was killed.
She said Severs just found out Labriola was engaged.
Jealousy may have been the motive for the murder, prosecutors alleged.
"He called (her fiance) a jerk," Creamer said. "He was down in the dumps."
Edward Hackett, another friend of Severs, testified Severs called him on January 10 at about 5:45 p.m.