Trial in murder of freshman begins

The trial of three Chester men accused of murdering a University student in December 1989 will start today in Delaware County. The three defendants, who were arrested last spring in connection with the shooting death of Engineering freshman Tyrone Robertson, will appear before a jury at the Delaware County Courthouse in Media this morning at 9:30 a.m. Attorneys said they expect the trial to last three days. Assistant District Attorney Jay Mattera, who is prosecuting the case, said yesterday that as of last night, there were no plans for a plea bargain before the trial begins today, but did not rule out the possibility of one. John Williamson, the attorney for defendant Michael Shaw, said yesterday that he did not know of any plans for a plea bargain in the case. Spiros Angelos, the attorney for alleged gunman Arnold Butcher, did not return several phone calls placed to his office this week. Williamson said yesterday that he expects the trial to last until Friday, and that today's proceedings will probably consist of the lawyers' opening statements and the beginning of the prosecution's case. According to police and news reports, Butcher, Shaw and the third defendant, Dwight Townsend, got into a fight with Robertson and his brother, Paul, after Butcher objected to Paul's talking to a woman in a local restaurant. The 21-year-old Butcher allegedly fired at both brothers, hitting only the 18-year-old freshman. Today's trial marks the third scheduled opening for the trial. The trial was originally slated for November, but Angelos got an extension until January 7 because he needed more time to prepare his defense. According to attorneys involved in the case, Angelos has been attempting to find a doctor who will testify in support of his claim that Robertson's death was the direct result of medical malpractice and not of the shooting.

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