https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0-Z-GXKEWQ
The latest chapter in the three decade-plus long saga of the death of Nancy Argentino started today, as Jimmy Snuka was officially arraigned on involuntary manslaughter and third degree murder charges in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh County Court. Argentino was Snuka’s girlfriend from Brooklyn, New York who travelled the WWF territory with him while his family lived in North Carolina.
A number of things came out in court today, as reported by Sarah Cassi of Lehigh Valley Live (who also live-tweeted the hearing on her Twitter account):
* Snuka, 72, claims to be suffering from some form of early-onset dementia as well as complications from post-concussion syndrome. If true, that means he developed symptoms for well over seven years, as “early-onset” means “before 65 years old.” When Judge Kelly Banach asked some questions used to determine if someone is competent to stand trial, Snuka didn’t know what day of the week it was or what city he was in. He also said that “I never really been to school” and never got a high school diploma or equivalent diploma. Snuka’s lawyer, Robert Kirwan, added that “He had good days. He has bad days. Today is actually a good day.”
* The judge issued a gag order on the participants as well as the Argentino family, saying that “I’m not going to permit this case to be tried in the press.” Chief Deputy District Attorney Charles Gallagher III requested the order in light of the statements that Kirwan made after the last hearing. Kirwan pointing out that the Argentino family had been participating in a Dateline NBC story about the case is what led to the judge adding them to the order. While the proceedings remain open to the public, everyone under the gag order can not speak publicly about the case outside of the courtroom.
* If the case does go to trial with Snuka deemed competent, Kirwan wants an out-of-county jury, presumably because locals have seen by far the most non-wrestling media coverage of the case.
