PA PA - Nancy Argentino, 23, Whitehall, 11 May 1983

Former professional wrestler Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka was in court Wednesday in Allentown.

Snuka was charged last month in a cold-case murder of his former girlfriend, and now the case will go to trial without a preliminary hearing.

Snuka’s attorney’s agreed to pass up preliminary hearing in exchange for grand jury testimony and copies of exhibits prior to trial.

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Prosecutors would not comment but Snuka’s attorneys say this former pro wrestler is looking forward to his day in court.

“Mr. Snuka, if his health continues to deteriorate, he’d like to leave this world knowing he’s an innocent man, not with everyone thinking that he’s guilty.”

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Former pro wrestler Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka is set to go to trial in March on charges he killed his mistress at a Lehigh County motel in 1983.

Attorneys in the case dealt with some of the pretrial motions on Tuesday, and scheduled March 22 to start jury selection for Snuka's trial.

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Defense attorneys for Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka said the former pro wrestler is not competent to stand trial on charges he killed his mistress in 1983.

Robert Kirwan filed a motion Friday for a competency hearing for the 72-year-old wrestling legend. The case was set to go to trial in March, but that has been cancelled now...

Kirwan said Snuka received a diagnosis back in 2010 of dementia and post-concussive disorder.

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It will be a little longer before a Lehigh County judge can determine if Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka is competent to stand trial on charges he killed his mistress in 1983.

The 72-year-old wrestling legend was due in court next week for a competency hearing in his case.

The hearing has been rescheduled for May 13, in order for the mental health experts to have "sufficient time to complete their evaluations and reports," according to a news release from the District Attorney's office.

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Richrd said:

PA - Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka, arrested for 1983 murder of Nancy Argentino, Lehigh Co.

World Wrestling Foundaton : Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka - M/73

for Murder of Nancy Argentino - F/23

James Snuka - also known as - James Wiley Smith Reiher

Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, is in South-Eastern, PA.

Your One-Click Source* Of Upper Court:

All ChargeS --- Bail --- Pre-Trial Confinement --- MotionS --- Scheduled Court DateS

Verdicts --- Sentencing --- Payments --- Follow-Up --- Appeals

*Upper Court Criminal Docket:

*https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/DocketSheets/CPReport.ashx?docketNumber=CP-39-CR-0004342-2015

Charges:

18 § 2502 §§ C (F1) :: Murder Of The Third Degree

18 § 2504 §§ A (M1) :: Involuntary Manslaughter

Released on 10% of $100,000 Bail.

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Prosecutors in the Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka homicide case are asking a judge to force the former pro wrestler's lawyer to hand over a psychologist's report ahead of next week's hearing to determine if Snuka is competent to stand trial...

Snuka, 72, is due back in court on May 13.

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Former professional wrestler Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka suffered so many blows to the head during his long career — even getting a coconut smashed on his skull — that he now suffers from dementia and is mentally incompetent to stand trial in the death of his girlfriend more than three decades ago, a psychologist testified Friday.

Snuka's severe mental impairment also stems from a history of abusing alcohol and cocaine, Dr. Frank Dattilio testified at the former wrestling star's competency hearing...

Lehigh County Judge Kelly Banach, after hearing from prosecution and defense experts, will decide if Snuka is competent to stand trial.

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In the courtroom, Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka nodded during certain testimony, chatted with guards and thanked his lawyer for a job well done.

When the hearing ended, the 73-year-old professional wrestler bowed his head and shuffled to his car, staring blankly as news photographers took his photo.

Forensic psychiatrist John O'Brien told a judge Wednesday that Snuka changed his demeanor because he had a different audience, not because — as his lawyer contends — he's suffering from dementia brought on by head injuries and substance abuse. "It shows his ability to switch gears and present himself differently," O'Brien told Lehigh County Judge Kelly L. Banach...

The doctor testified for the prosecution Wednesday during the second part of Snuka's competency hearing, and opined that Snuka is mentally fit to stand trial for the 1983 homicide of his girlfriend, Nancy Argentino.

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An audiotape was made of Jimmy "Superfly' Snuka's interview with police the night his 23-year-old girlfriend died, but the tape is missing, it was revealed in court Wednesday...

Procanyn said the tape was placed in the Whitehall police station evidence room for safekeeping in 1983, and that he looked for it as recently as two days ago but couldn’t find it...

During Wednesday’s hearing, it was revealed the other two detectives who were present at the tape-recorded interview of Snuka in 1983 are deceased.

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Pro wrestler Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka testified at his mental competency hearing on Friday and often seemed confused as he was questioned by a judge who will decide whether he can stand trial on charges he killed his girlfriend in 1983.

Snuka, who turned 73 on Wednesday, said he was in his 80s. He didn't know it was 2016. He couldn't remember the name of his lawyer or identify the current U.S. president or any presidential candidates. And he seemed befuddled about the reason he was in court.

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A Pennsylvania judge said Wednesday pro wrestling star Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka is incompetent to stand trial in the 1983 death of his girlfriend.

Lehigh County Judge Kelly Banach ruled from the bench after a four-day hearing to determine whether Snuka should face trial on murder and manslaughter charges for allegedly killing 23-year-old Nancy Argentino.

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An eastern Pennsylvania judge says she won’t dismiss the homicide charges against former pro wrestling star Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka in the death of his girlfriend more than three decades ago but may consider doing so later.

Prosecutors then asked the judge to either require Snuka to participate in outpatient treatment to determine whether he can become mentally competent or dismiss the charges.

“If you believe that he’s not going to become competent, then what’s the point?” Chief Deputy District Attorney Charles Gallagher III asked Judge Kelly Banach in court on Tuesday. “We ask you to dismiss the charges.”

Banach said she wasn’t comfortable with dismissing the charges at this point but wanted to revisit the case at Snuka’s next evaluation hearing in December. She said she was open to reconsidering her decision if new evidence to drop the charges was presented.

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Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka is in a Florida hospice and has six months to live, his lawyer said Friday.

While a Lehigh County judge mulls whether Snuka, 73, can ever regain competency to stand trial for homicide, his family struggles to keep him from leaving his home during bouts of psychosis in which he thinks he's late for a WWE wrestling match.

These details were revealed Friday during a review hearing before Judge Kelly L. Banach, who in June declared Jimmy Snuka incompetent to stand trial in the 1983 homicide of his girlfriend, Nancy Argentino.

Banach did not make a ruling after the hearing, saying she wanted to review Snuka's latest medical records before determining if she will dismiss the case, or if she believes Snuka's condition is likely to improve.

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In finding Snuka incompetent to stand trial, the judge found that he was substantially mentally impaired to the point that he did not understand court proceedings and was unable to assist in his defense.

The ruling meant that Snuka cannot be tried until a judge is satisfied that his condition has improved. Prosecutors, who allege the former wrestler is faking dementia, have refused to drop the charges.

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