Court briefs for Jan. 8, 2003

Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2003 | 9:59 a.m.

'Springfield Sam' trial postponed

The attempted murder trial of an elderly reputed mobster accused of shooting up a local car dealership was postponed Tuesday in District Court.

Samuel "Springfield Sam" Manarite was expected to go on trial Tuesday before District Judge Michael Douglas, but Douglas postponed the trial for a day, saying he was taking medication for an injured foot. Jury selection was to get under way this morning.

Manarite, 84, is charged with two counts of attempted murder and burglary in state court, and federal firearms and parole violation charges.

Police say Manarite fired shots at Dino Boggiano and John Pasqualone at Astro Auto Sales on Main Street after a confrontation involving the sale of a car.

Boggiano was shot in the wrist, and prosecutors say Manarite was shot in the shoulder when Boggiano fired back.

Trial delayed again in hotel killing

The trial of a Pennsylvania woman accused of a luring a tourist into a hotel room with the promise of sex and then robbing and killing him was delayed for a second time Tuesday in District Court.

District Judge John McGroarty postponed Paulette Walker Perry's trial until Jan. 21 at the request of her attorney, Andy Myers.

The trial was initially scheduled to take place Jan. 13, but Myers said he would be unavailable that week.

The trial was previously postponed due to scheduling problems with attorneys representing both sides, Deputy District Attorney David Schwartz said.

Perry, 34, faces three felony counts, which include murder with the use of a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit robbery and robbery with the use of a deadly weapon.

Perry and Kenneth Maurice Grant, 34, allegedly took David Sygnarski, also of Pennsylvania, to a room at the Maxim, robbed him and stabbed him to death.

Grant will be tried separately. His trial is scheduled to begin Feb. 3. Sygnarski, 47, was found wrapped in plastic in the hotel room on April 26.

Perry and Grant were captured in California.