News brief: Trial in Randle beating death postponed

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The trial expected next week for the Randle taxidermist accused in the beating death of his father-in-law has been postponed.

2011.0224.erik.masa.small_2

Erik R. Massa

Erik R. Massa, 43, was charged in February with second-degree murder in the death of Guy W. LaFontaine, a 58-year-old welder, from Federal Way.

The trial, expected to last five days, is now scheduled for the week of January 17.

LaFontaine ended up at Morton General Hospital on March 13, 2010 with two broken eye sockets and other injuries, but was released, because they couldn’t keep him in his bed, according to charging documents. LaFontaine’s wife took him to St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way where he was pronounced dead.

Massa has pleaded not guilty and remains free on $25,000 bail.
•••

Read background on the case:

“Randle taxidermist to face murder charge” from Tuesday Feb. 8, 2011, here

Tags: ,

This entry was posted on Friday, October 21st, 2011 at 8:39 pm and is filed under News briefs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

2 Responses to “News brief: Trial in Randle beating death postponed”

  1. Kandace says:
    Friday, December 2, 2011 at 2:40 pm

    Bill S.
    You were not there.. I know that.
    Your imformation is also incorrect… I know that

  2. Bill S says:
    Saturday, October 22, 2011 at 5:53 pm

    The prosecutor doesn’t have much of a case left
    The only guy that was in the room with those 2 is dead. Massa is gonna roll the dice. Odds of dismissal 50 percent. Odds of conviction 30 percent.