Strzelecki found guilty, but mentally ill on all six counts
Wednesday evening (Sept. 30) a 12-member jury found Richard Strzelecki, 64, of Posen guilty but mentally ill on six counts related to the Jan. 15 murder of Henry and Eugene Hincka.
Testimony in the case ended at a little after 2 p.m. Wednesday and at 2:40 p.m. final arguments from the attorneys began. Following final arguments the Honorable Judge Scott L. Pavlich read the jury its final instructions and at a little after 4 p.m. the jury retreated to the jury room to begin its deliberations.
After requesting dinner and three pieces of evidence including the tape of the 34-minute interview conducted at the jail the day of the incident with Strzelecki and Presque Isle County Sheriffs Department Sgt. John Kasuba and Detective Joe Mulka. The jury also requested a list of medications Strzelecki was on at the time of the incident and the tapes of the 9-1-1 calls Strzelecki made that day. The jury reached a verdict just before 9 p.m.
The jury came into the courtroom at 9 p.m. and read the verdict. Following the reading of the verdict defense attorney Dan Harris asked that the jury be polled. Each juror was asked if guilty but mentally ill was their verdict and each responded yes.
Strzelecki was found guilty but mentally ill on the following six counts; homicide first degree Eugene Hincka; homicide first degree Henry Hincka; felony murder Eugene Hincka; felony murder Henry; home invasion first degree and felony firearms. Sentencing in the matter is scheduled for Oct. 26.
The Presque Isle County Sheriff’s Department took Strzelecki into custody, he will be lodged at the Presque Isle County Jail.
The brothers along with Strzelecki and his wife Beth had a business partnership operating HERB Produce in Posen.
(More details later on PIAdvance.com and in next week’s Advance)
