McClellandtown man’s homicide trial begins with alleged victim’s girlfriend’s testimony

A Fayette County jury will be tasked with determining if a McClellandtown man acted with malice and intent or in self-defense when he shot and killed a man last year.
Christopher Shellhammer, 31, is charged in the Jan. 15, 2018, death of Michael Henrick, 39.
Jurors on Monday heard from Kelly French, 27, who was at the Peach Street home in Masontown when Henrick, her boyfriend, was shot.
French told jurors she met Shellhammer in November 2017 on a dating app. But, testified French, she wasn’t looking for a relationship. She said she used the app to find someone willing to sell her marijuana.
French said Shellhammer sold her pot around eight times, telling jurors that Henrick had met him and the two once got into an argument after she accused Shellhammer of shorting her on the amount of marijuana she bought.
The night Henrick was shot, French testified, Shellhammer arrived around 9:48 p.m. and they were sitting at the dining room table, ready to smoke marijuana when Henrick walked in the house. Henrick crossed his arms and asked Shellhammer, “What are you doing here with my old lady?” she testified.
French testified Shellhammer started to leave and was at the front door when she asked him if he was still going to sell marijuana to her. When he told her no, French testified, she punched him in the face and a scuffle ensued. She said Henrick punched Shellhammer in the face, prompting Shellhammer to pull out a pistol and shoot Henrick in the chest and then in the back as he turned around.
French said a third shot hit a wall in the home.
Assistant District Attorney Ryan Benninger asked French if she or Henrick had any weapons in their hands, and she said they didn’t.
Assistant Public Defender Michael Aubele questioned French about prior statements she made to the police that contradicted her testimony as well as items photographed at the scene.
One was a photograph of her upstairs bedroom where Henrick’s property and clothing were found as she testified he arrived wearing his basketball shorts, boots and no shirt in 20-degree weather.
“I don’t know,” French said. “I didn’t hear him walk up the steps.”
Aubele also referenced the police reports where she told Masontown Police that Shellhammer tried to leave the house, but couldn’t get the door open and then she hit him.
“You tried to hit a man who tried to escape from your house,” Aubele said to her.
French said she was drinking, prompting Aubele to note that her blood-alcohol content was 0.006 percent.
Aubele also asked French if Henrick had put her up to texting Shellhammer to come over to the house, also asking how one punch from her and one punch from Henrick could have broken Shellhammer’s nose and jaw.
“I’ve been reliving that moment for the past year,” French said.
She will return to the witness stand Tuesday and expected to offer additional testimony.
Shellhammer remains lodged in the Fayette County Prison without bail.