Murder trial begins for Richard Strzelecki

by Angie Asam–Staff Writer

The trial in the case of the people of the state of Michigan v. Richard Strzelecki began yesterday (Sept. 29)  with jury selection at Belknap Township Hall. The Honorable Judge Scott L. Pavlich introduced the case, thanked the prospective jurors for being at the selection and read the information in the case.

Strzelecki remains jailed without bond and is charged with two counts of first-degree homicide and two counts of felony murder in the deaths of brothers Eugene, 60, and Henry Hincka, 48. Strzelecki was a neighbor and farming businesses partner with the brothers and his wife Beth in HERB Produce. The incident occurred Jan. 15.

The jury selection process began at approximately 9:25 a.m. with 14 prospective jurors being called to the jury seats in the front of the hall. Questions began to find out if some jurors needed to be dismissed for cause. In total Pavlich dismissed 10 jurors with cause, those who he felt had reasons they could not serve or be fair and unbiased heading into the trial. The defendant has asserted the defense of legal insanity.

Defendant Richard Strzelecki is led into the jury selection by undersheriff Joe Brewbaker. (Photo by Angie Asam)
Defendant Richard Strzelecki is led into the jury selection by undersheriff Joe Brewbaker. (Photo by Angie Asam)

From there he gave the defense and prosecution a chance to dismiss for cause or simply just dismiss for other reasons. Through that process defense attorney Dan Harris dismissed four jurors and prosecuting attorney Rick Steiger dismissed three. At 10:40 a.m. the jury of 14 was seated and the case moved back to the county courthouse where the trial began at 11:30 a.m. with jury instructions and opening statements by the attorneys.

Steiger, in his opening statement, asserted that after hearing all the evidence, including testimony from doctors, that Strzelecki might have been mentally ill, but he was not legally insane.

Harris told the jury to be aware there are two sides to the story. He said the defense is not disputing what happened, but the question is why, he said in his opening statement. A s

eries of events, including his own physical and mental health and the financial stability of the business, pushed Strzelecki to a tipping point, Harris said.

After a lunch break Steiger began calling witnesses to testify beginning with Stzelecki’s neighbor Mark Darga followed by 9-1-1 dispatcher Randy Idalski, 9-1-1 coordinator Renee Szymanski and finally Presque Isle County Sheriff’s Department sergeant John Kasuba.

Testimony lasted until about 4:45 p.m. when Pavlich told the jury that would be all for the day. Court will resumed at 9 a.m. Tuesday.

The trial is expected to last all week.

(More coverage will be in the Oct. 1, 2015 edition of the Presque Isle County Advance)