WWE Hall-of-famer Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka pleaded not guilty Monday to a murder charge in the death of his mistress more than three decades ago, Nancy Argentino.
Snuka, now 72, was charged in September with third-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter after a grand jury deduced that he physically abused Argentino. He's claimed his innocence for quite some time despite new evidence prosecutors are presenting that show the contrary.
Snuka seemed to have trouble answering some questions at his arraignment in Lehigh County Court, The Associated Press reported. His attorney said he has early-onset dementia and post-concussion syndrome. Snuka was able to tell the judge he cannot read or write because he never attended school.
Snuka was under contract with the WWE when Argentino died on May 11, 1983. The WWE released a statement on the case in September, saying, "The WWE expresses its continued sympathy to the Argentino family for their loss. Ultimately this legal matter will be decided by our judicial system."
In an in-depth story with the The Morning Call from two years ago, then Assistant District Attorney Robert Steinberg said when Snuka and WWE President Vince McMahon met with then district attorney William Platt, McMahon did most of the talking.
"I remember Vince McMahon being what Vince McMahon has always been -- very effusive. He was very protective, a showman," Steinberg said. "He was the mouthpiece, trying to direct the conversation."
McMahon was found to be "very cooperative" and answered all of the DA's questions. Snuka has said since then that he has no recollection of the meeting at all.
In his affidavit in the lawsuit, Snuka maintained that he's never hurt Nancy.
"I am very sorry that she died because she was a wonderful young lady. I regret this very deeply and personally, and I am sorry for the Argentinos' loss," he said in his affidavit. "I know the Argentinos feel grief for their loss and I know they want to be comforted. They were my friends, and I hope they will find a way to show mercy on me and not take advantage of my present situation and my inability to defend their lawsuit."
All reports indicate that it's unclear whether McMahon will be called to testify in the upcoming trial. Snuka was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 1996, but has not been active with the WWE recently. But his daughter Tamina is still a participating member of the company's Divas division.
Snuka's defense attorney Robert Kiwan told The Morning Call when the new charges were filed, "The sooner this gets brought to a court, to a jury, the better," he said. "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 he's guilty, so we're looking for a quick trial as well, for his sake and for his reputation."
Prosecutors appear to have quite a bit of evidence in the case, however, as well.
"Pennsylvania prosecutors publicly dropped a motherload of hard evidence citing inconsistent Snuka stories, conclusive forensic and revelatory autopsy reports -- all pointing to classifying Argentino's death as a homicide, and suggesting that the killer was Superfly himself," according to The Daily Beast. "Authorities even tossed the WWE Hall of Famer's tell-all autobiography as the cherry on top of the mountain of facts."
A gag order has been issued for this case, as well. Chief Deputy District Attorney Charles Gallagher III requested the order Monday in light of what he claims were "blasphemous" statements by Snuka's defense in front of the courthouse after last month's hearing.
A pretrial hearing is scheduled for December. Snuka remains free in lieu of 10 percent of $100,000 bail.
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