March 22 retrial set for neo-Nazi charged in slaying
- www.tbo.com Tampa Bay Online, Dec 14th 2009
NEW PORT RICHEY – A self-professed neo-Nazi will be tried again for murder next year.
A retrial was scheduled for March 22 during a court hearing this morning to determine whether to move forward with the case against John Ditullio Jr., who is accused of killing a homosexual man, Kristofer King, and trying to kill a woman, Patricia Wells, who associated with a black man.
Circuit Judge Michael Andrews declared a mistrial late Friday after jurors could not reach a unanimous verdict after nearly 10 hours of deliberations.
The vote was 10-2 in favor of not guilty.
At the time of the March 23, 2006, slaying, Ditullio was a recruit of the American Nazis, a neo-Nazi group that congregated at a compound in Griffin Park.
Wells lived next door to the compound with her son, Brandon Wininger. Wininger wasn’t home during the attacks, but his friend, King, had gone to the home to use a computer.
Prosecutors argued that Ditullio donned a gas mask and entered Wells’ mobile home after midnight. He slashed Wells’ face and turned the knife on King, who was trying to escape, authorities said. King, 17, died of knife wounds to the head. Wells escaped and ran for help.
Prosecutors said Wells was attacked because she associated with a black man and King was stabbed because he was gay. They said Ditullio was trying to impress the American Nazis enough to gain admission into the group.
A former group member testified for the prosecution that Ditullio was responsible for the crimes.
The defense acknowledged Ditullio’s association with the group, but Ditullio testified that he didn’t commit the crimes and was set up by other members.
The defense advanced the theory that Shawn Plott, another American Nazi now listed as a fugitive, was the attacker.
A last-minute witness for the defense may have had an impact on the jury’s vote. On Friday morning, Samantha Troupe testified that she lived in the compound before the group scattered after the stabbings. She said Plott told her a year later that he was responsible for the crimes.
If convicted, Ditullio could face the death penalty.
