| | Hitcho admitted shooting Robert Lasso. He testified Lasso didn't identify himself as a officer, attempted to kill his dogs and threatened his life.<p>Hitcho testified that he was in his basement, looking into one of his dogs and her ten puppies when he heard someone banging on his back door. He alleged that he was afraid somebody was breaking into his house, so he visited the doorway and located a guy pointing what he thought was a gun at him. He said his two other dogs barked and growled at the man.</p><h3 class="dynamic">Hitcho’s Killing Lasso not Disputed </h3><p>Lead Public Defender Michael Corriere told the jury, in his opening statement, that Hitcho fatally shot Lasso. He maintained that his client wasn’t responsible for first-degree murder because Hitcho didn't deliberately, intentionally and knowingly kill Lasso with premeditation. He pled the jury would consider third-degree murder or voluntary manslaughter because Hitcho, purportedly, has cognitive dysfunctions.</p><p>Corriere suggested that Hitcho acted in “heat of passion” following an altercation together with his neighbor. Due to his state, he reacted by firing the shotgun through the window of his home when claimed he heard Bruneio say, "Shoot him." The prosecution said Bruneio was telling Lasso to fireplace his Taser at Hitcho's dog.</p> <h3 class="dynamic">Hitcho’s Version during the day from the Killing</h3><p>The shooter’s version of Lasso’s death differed greatly from what was reported in the</p><p>August 11, 2011 headlines: Officer Killed: George Hitcho Jr. is the Alleged Shooter and also the May 7, 2012 news: Alleged Cop Killer George Hitcho Jr. Would go to Trial. On August 11, 2011, Lasso was killed in the line of duty. Hitcho shot him in cold blood, in front of witnesses.</p><p>Hitcho said Lasso drove to his home and told him he needed to speak with him. He told Lasso he required to let his dogs out and could be back. He claimed that Lasso nike free run 3 said he'd shoot him and kill his dogs if he didn’t open the door. He felt so horrified that he froze and messed his pants. The defense team showed the jury his stained khaki pants. There was no mention of messed pants in prior news reports and testimonies. Lasso aimed his Taser in the dogs. Hitcho said he heard someone yell, "Robert, shoot him!" He grabbed a loaded shotgun and shot the cop at the back of his neck.</p><p>Hitcho said he didn’t recognize Lasso, whom he knew or noticed he would be a officer; however, Lasso was wearing his uniform. It was true that he knew Lasso because he arrested him for possession of drug paraphernalia. He pled guilty. He explained he didn't know whom he shot until Bruneio told him as he captured him minutes later.</p> <h2>More on this topic </h2> <ul id="article_list">Police Officer Killed: George Hitcho Jr. Alleged ShooterDA John Morganelli Ends George Hitcho's Murder Trial ProsecutionCop Killer George Hitcho Jr. Would go to Trial<p>The defense called a couple of Hitcho's cousins to testify about thefts that happened on Hitcho's property that might have remaining him feeling hypervigilant. Andrew Hitcho III testified to seeing two males take an ATV from Hitcho’s home on August 4, 2010. Law enforcement report doesn’t say that Hitcho felt threatened, but Hitcho III testified he was and that he were built with a security camera installed. Keith Hammerstone swore he knew concerning the theft and another one when Hitcho reported a gun stolen from his home, a month before Lasso's death. He explained that before house-sitting for Hitcho, he asked him to depart a loaded gun for protection.</p><h3 class="dynamic">Hitcho’s Testimony Contradicted Experts’ and Witnesses’ Testimony </h3><p>On May 15, 2012, DA John Morganelli ended George Hitcho's murder trial prosecution after experts testified. Pennsylvania State Trooper Jason Troutman took snapshots inside of Hitcho's house 6 hours after he shot Lasso. Weapons and ammunition were confiscated. Morganelli showed the jury the weapons and Troutman confirmed each one of these was confiscated.</p><p>Police had testified they confiscated the shotgun Hitcho allegedly used to kill Lasso after Freemansburg police Bruneio aimed his gun at him and ordered him to decrease it.</p><p>Pennsylvania State Police Sergeant Kurt Tempinski testified the shotgun shell that killed Lasso can be used in skeet nike free run canada shooting. The shell discharges small pellets that demolish clay pigeons from a distance, but could be fatal when shot near the target. Lasso was shot far away of 5 feet. His description matched the photographs taken by Barbara Bollinger MD, the forensic pathologist who performed the autopsy.</p><p>The jury saw a video of the bare-chested, handcuffed Hitcho relaxing in the rear of a state police vehicle. nike free 3.0 v3 Trooper Seth Kelly testified that Hitcho said, “Hey, I’m on 'Candid Camera,'” after he noticed the police camera.</p><h3 class="dynamic">DA Morganelli Cross Examines Hitcho </h3><p>The prosecutor ridiculed a number of Hitcho's testimony, pointing out inconsistencies between his testimony and visit other witnesses. He doubted his story and said two of his friends testified they heard Lasso ask Hitcho to talk to him before he ordered him to control his dogs.</p><p>Morganelli implied that Hitcho invented his version about Lasso trying to kick down his door and pointing a gun at him. He asked the shooter if he wanted the jury to believe his story. Hitcho’s retort was that’s what happened.</p><p>The DA replied that Hitcho ran into his home before police could talk to him about a dispute he had with a neighbor and threatened him. Bruneio testified the fatal shot was fired as soon as he yelled at Lasso to stun the dogs. Morganelli said there wasn’t enough time for Hitcho to grab the shotgun, point and shoot.</p><p>He asked Hitcho if he had the weapon ready when Lasso arrived. The shooter denied this and claimed that he went into shock and his memory was muddled due to the trauma.</p><p>Police had stated that he said, "'He ain't developing my property with no warrant.'" Hitcho said he'd no memory of making that account or others.</p><p>After the jury was dismissed, Corriere said he really wants to call Susan Rushing, MD, a psychiatrist who focuses on brain trauma, to testify once the trial resumes 9 AM, on May 17, 2012 and hopes to relax his case following the jury hears her testimony.</p><h3 class="dynamic">Questions concerning the Trial</h3><p>Why didn’t Hitcho recognize a uniformed officer who arrested him for any crime he pled guilty to? Did he have a fugue, a psychiatric amnesiac state where people appear to be conscious of their behavior, but don't have any memory of these after returning to an ordinary state of consciousness, after he shot Lasso? Who taken care of the expert that Corriere wants to call to testify for Hitcho? The taxpayers purchase his defense team, so it’s deducted they paid for her examination. What breed were the dogs? Is Hitcho a pathological liar and, in laypeople’s terms, a psychopath?</p><h3 class="dynamic">Sources: </h3>American Psychiatric Association, D<em>iagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental <em>rders DSM IV TR, </em></em>American Psychiatric Association, 2000.Hervey Cleckley,<em> <em>The Mask of Sanity</em>, </em>Textbook Publishers, 2003.Ephraim Rosen & Ian Gregory,<em> <em>Abnormal Psychology</em>,</em> W. B. Saunders Company, 1965.Martha Stout, <em><em>The Sociopath Next Door</em>,</em> Broadway Books, 2005.Robert Hare, <em><em>Without Conscience</em>, </em>The Guilford Press 1999.Tom Shortell, “Da Spars with George Hitcho Jr. over Inconsistencies in his Testimony in Capital Murder Trial,” The <em>Express Tines, </em>May 16, 2012.
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