JIMMY SNUKA ACCUSED OF KILLING GIRLFRIEND 30 YEARS AGO

On Sept. 1, it was announced that Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka, a professional wrestler, was charged by the authorities for the death of his New York girlfriend nearly three decades ago. The girlfriend reportedly died after she was discovered gasping for air in a Pennsylvania hotel that she had been staying at with Snuka.

An autopsy report that was published showed that the woman had suffered traumatic brain injuries and had multiple cuts and bruises covering her back, buttocks, legs and arms. Initially, Snuka told authorities that he pushed her earlier the same day of her death, causing her to fall. However, he later changed his story, stating that she hit her head in a bathroom at a rest stop when they were traveling on the highway.

The wrestler was indicted on multiple charges, including involuntary manslaughter, on Sept. 1. He was taken into custody at his New Jersey home and was expected to post bail shortly after. He reportedly maintained that he was innocent and was not involved in the girlfriend’s death.

People who are accused of being involved in violent crimes potentially face a long prison sentence, fines and a lengthy probation if they are paroled. If they are being accused of a crime that was committed several years or decades ago, the evidence available may not be properly interpreted. A criminal law attorney may argue that old evidence was tampered with or the chain of custody regarding the evidence may be suspect, possibly leading to a dismissal of the charges.

Source: NBC New York, “Wrestling Legend Jimmy ‘Superfly’ Snuka Charged in Cold Case Killing of Brooklyn Girlfriend“, September 1, 2015