Lawyers for a Montana teen who is accused of murdering a homeless man began their defense on Monday.
Rusty Lee-Ray Russell was 18 when he and a friend were involved in an April 26, 2005, incident in Billings. John Gewanski, a 65-year-old homeless man, died after being stabbed with a knife.
Brandon Spotted Wolf, who was also 18 at the time, pleaded guilty to deliberate homicide by accountability, aggravated assault and robbery. He testified that Russell was the one who stabbed Gewanski.
Spotted Wolf is likely to be called back to the stand by Russell's lawyers. Russell plans to blame Spotted Wolf for the murder. Another homeless man was injured in the incident.
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Defense begins at trial over transient's death
(The Billings Gazette 5/9)
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Tuesday, May 9, 2006
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