Jul 21, 2007 By Jennifer Harr 2 min read

An attorney for a Normalville man convicted of killing his estranged wife’s lover in 2005 asked the state Superior Court to hear an appeal of his voluntary manslaughter conviction. Attorney David Shrager filed the appeal after Fayette County Judge Ralph C. Warman denied a request to modify Raymond Michael Prinkey’s seven- to 20-year prison sentence last month.

Prinkey, 50, was convicted in May of shooting and killing James Cononico, 50, at Lori Prinkey’s apartment on East Washington Avenue in Connellsville on Oct. 19, 2005.

Cononico, 50, and Lori Prinkey were involved in an affair that started after Cononico was released from prison in August 2005. They met in prison, where Lori Prinkey was a unit manager.

Mike Prinkey told jurors that he was enraged when he found out his wife was being unfaithful after she moved out of their home.

He also told jurors that he and Cononico scuffled for the 9mm handgun Mike Prinkey brought to his wife’s apartment. After he gained control of the gun, Mike Prinkey testified that Cononico stood with his arms raised and his back to him for a short time.

Then Cononico suddenly turned as if to take the gun, he said. Mike Prinkey testified he fired the weapon, concerned that Cononico would take it and shoot him.

The bullet entered behind Cononico’s left ear and came out above his right eyebrow.

The details of the appeal were not immediately available.