Preliminary hearing delayed
CONNELLSVILLE – A third preliminary hearing for two men accused of beating a city man has been delayed at the request of defense counsel. The hearing, scheduled for Monday before District Justice Brenda Cavalcante, will be moved to July 1 at 1 p.m.
William J. Lizza, 62, of 201 Wood St., Connellsville, and Mark Hall, 42, of 107 Homestead Ave., Scottdale, are charged with aggravated assault for allegedly beating Ronald “Milo” Flynn at an East Fairview Avenue apartment on Aug. 25.
According to prosecutors, the alleged beating caused three skull fractures.
The first two preliminary hearings in the matter were held before District Magistrate Ronald Haggerty.
During the first hearing, Haggerty held that charges of simple assault, reckless endangerment, harassment and disorderly conduct filed by the Connellsville Police Department should be bound over for court while additional charges of aggravated assault and burglary were dismissed.
Fayette County Assistant District Attorney Mark Brooks refiled the felony aggravated assault charge with Haggerty’s office that was again dismissed during the second preliminary hearing.
In March, Brooks was granted a change of venue in the case following a hearing before Fayette County President Judge William J. Franks when he requested the charge again be refiled with another magistrate.
According to testimony presented at the first preliminary hearings, Lizza and Hall went to Flynn’s residence after he allegedly threatened to do bodily harm to Lizza’s wife, Cindy Lizza.
Flynn was transported to a Pittsburgh hospital for injuries he received during the alleged altercation.
Charges of stalking and harassment filed against Flynn by state police with District Justice Dwight Shaner were withdrawn.