PWTorch.com - SNUKA NEWS: Jimmy Snuka court hearing Wednesday - preliminary hearing bypassed, 1983 cold case heading to trial, Snuka's defense comments, health update, more

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SNUKA NEWS: Jimmy Snuka court hearing Wednesday - preliminary hearing bypassed, 1983 cold case heading to trial, Snuka's defense comments, health update, more

Oct 7, 2015 - 1:54:53 PM

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By James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

Both sides in Jimmy Snuka's murder trial agreed to bypass a preliminary hearing during a court appearance Wednesday morning in Allentown, Pa.

No trial date has been set, though, in the case of Snuka being charged with the murder of his 1983 girlfriend, Nancy Argentino.

The Lehigh County district attorney's office wanted to bypass the hearing because they believe they have enough evidence from the grand jury's review of the 1983 cold case to prosecute Snuka. The defense team also agreed to bypass the hearing because Snuka is dying from stomach cancer and they want to attempt to "clear his name" as soon as possible.

"The sooner this gets brought to a jury, the better," said Snuka's attorney, Robert Kirwan, outside of the courthouse. "Mr. Snuka, if his health continues to deteriorate, would like to leave this world knowing that he's an innocent man, not having everyone think he's guilty. So, we're looking for a quick trial as well. For his sake and for his reputation."

As part of the agreement to bypass the preliminary hearing, Snuka's defense team was granted access to transcripts of the grand jury's review of the cold case, which they believe will help their defense. Included in the transcripts are witness testimony and available evidence from 30 years ago.

Snuka appeared in court on Wednesday morning. He was able to walk into the courthouse on his own. When he was arrested in September, he was in a wheelchair using a feeding tube.

Snuka is scheduled to begin chemotherapy treatment in the next few weeks for his stomach cancer.

[ LINK: Text & Video Report from Allentown HERE at WFMZ.com . More background on the case via wrestling reporter Irv Muchnick at ConcussionInc.net ]

[Torch photo credit Wade Keller (c) PWTorch.com]