Jury clears Adah man
An Adah man charged with trying to kill a man who allegedly stole $40 from him was acquitted on all charges Tuesday in Fayette County Court. Keith Lewis hugged his attorney, Public Defender Jeffrey Whiteko, when verdicts of not guilty on attempted homicide, aggravated and simple assault and reckless endangerment were announced after about two hours of jury deliberations.
State police alleged that Lewis, who turns 33 on Sunday, beat Paul Hall with a wooden souvenir baseball bat and then ran over his leg last Dec. 7.
Lewis, however, testified that Hall was the aggressor.
He told the nine-woman, three-man panel that he did accuse Hall of taking his money. Hall, testified Lewis, denied taking the cash from his truck and then attacked him with a knife. Lewis testified he hit Hall with a baseball bat only to defend himself.
The men met for the first time earlier in the evening at Rose’s Lounge, and Hall testified that Lewis agreed to give him a ride to his estranged wife’s house, about 1 1/2 miles away. Hall testified that Lewis accused him of taking the money and then dropped him off back at Rose’s, where they tussled.
Then, testified Hall, he decided to walk to his estranged wife’s home. On the way, Hall testified, Lewis attacked him and he used a knife to defend himself.
Lewis went to the hospital shortly after the attack and asked for police to be called. Hall testified he went to his wife’s home, washed his face and changed his clothes and went to sleep. He went to the hospital several hours later, and police, responding to Lewis’ request, interviewed him.
Whiteko, in his closing remarks to jurors, asked them to consider why Hall cleaned up.
“Mr. Hall thought Mr. Lewis might make a report, but he doesn’t know me, I don’t know him, so maybe if I clean myself up, no one will know,” said Whiteko.
He also told jurors that, despite Hall’s claim that Lewis ran over his knee, there was no evidence to support that.
“The tire runs over his knee, but there are no fractures, no bruises, no redness. Pretty amazing, isn’t it?” asked Whiteko.
Assistant District Attorney Phyllis A. Jin told jurors that Hall’s story was the one that made sense, noting that his injuries were consistent with being attacked and beaten brutally with a baseball bat.
“The evidence is there to support his story,” said Jin.
Judge Steve P. Leskinen presided over the case.