Jury hears testimony in assault case
The defense attorney for Jon Bender told Fayette County jurors Tuesday that he probably won’t convince them his client is innocent of trying to run down two men last June. “But I feel quite confident … that after listening to David Lint and his crew, you’ll be convinced that there is a doubt as to (Bender’s) guilt,” said Paul Boas in his opening arguments.
Bender is charged with two counts each of simple assault and recklessly endangering another person for allegedly trying to run over Lint and his nephew, Christopher Lint, on June 27 near River Road, Dawson. In addition, Bender is charged with intimidation of a witness regarding David Lint since Lint helped state police gather evidence that Bender wanted to have his girlfriend killed and is expected to testify in that trial.
In that case, Bender allegedly tried to hire Lint to kill Wanda Pletcher. Lint went to police, and wore a wire to catch Bender on tape soliciting murder for hire. The tape was subsequently thrown out by a judge because it violated Bender’s right to privacy in his home and is on appeal by prosecutors.
The alleged attempt to hit the Lints occurred after Lint wore the wire.
Both Lints took the stand Tuesday, and offered testimony about the alleged incident.
David Lint testified that he was riding his nephew’s quad down an alley off River Road when a car parked in front of his slowed him down. As he prepared to pass the car on the left side, Lint testified that a Chrysler LeBaron convertible came around the car, and swerved towards him.
“I said, ‘What the (expletive) you doing?’ Then I seen who it was and called police,” Lint told Assistant District Attorney Phyllis A. Jin.
Boas heavily quizzed Lint about his criminal history, including an arrest on burglary charges Monday. Lint also testified that he has no driver’s license, but hasn’t been caught driving by police since he helped get them evidence against Bender.
“So you know the way it works, right?” questioned Boas, referring to favorable treatment for commonwealth witnesses.
“Yea, I know how it works,” testified Lint.
But Lint testified that despite his legal woes, he was testifying against Bender “pretty much” for purely good motives.
Prosecutors also presented Christopher Lint, who testified that he initially thought the car coming towards his uncle was some kind of joke, and testified he rode off of the quad, which was his. As he rode down another nearby alley, Bender tried to hit him, Lint testified.
He told jurors that he was forced to swerve dramatically, and rolled the quad, falling off.
Both Lints testified that they did not talk about the alleged incident to get their stories consistent, as Boas suggested.
Testimony is expected to pick up this morning before Judge Conrad B. Capuzzi.