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Journal-World FRIDAY • JUNE 6 • 2014
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Retrial jury finds Gonzalez guilty Man who wielded beer bottle convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 2012 death By Giles Bruce
Gonzalez
Sardina
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Mr. Gonzalez will have After about a day of delibera- to live with the fact he tions, a jury Thursday found Justin took a life.” Twitter: @GilesBruce
P. Gonzalez guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the 2012 death of Nicholas Sardina at a house party in Lawrence. The defense plans to appeal. Members of Gonzalez’s family cried, some uncontrollably, as the verdict was read. Gonzalez, 23, of Mission, hit Sardina, 27, of Lawrence, over the head with a beer bottle during a brawl at a party in the 300 block of West
It’s all about winning the case and not so much allowing justice.”
— Charles Branson, district attorney
— Anthony Gonzalez, defendant’s uncle
14th Street in the early morning hours of Feb. 25, 2012. Gonzalez had argued that he was trying to protect a friend under attack by Sardina. Prosecutors said Gonzalez used excessive force in striking Sardina, who later died from his injuries. The first trial in December end-
ed in a hung jury. The retrial began last Wednesday. “This was a difficult and tragic case. One family has to deal with the loss of a loved one, and Mr. Gonzalez will have to live with the fact he took a life,” District Attorney Charles Branson said in a state-
A HOUSE OF WONDERS
ment Thursday. “No matter the outcome of the second trial, we felt the community should decide this case.” Gonzalez, who remains free on bond, faces probation to 34 months in prison because of his lack of criminal history, according to his lawyer. A sentencing scheduling hearing has been set for June 17. Defense attorney Sarah Swain said she would be appealing the verdict on the grounds that the court gave the jury improper inPlease see GONZALEZ, page 2A
D-DAY ANNIVERSARY
70 years ago, they stormed the beach KU professor explains battle that defied odds By Ben Unglesbee bunglesbee@ljworld.com
When Adrian Lewis used to teach at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, he took cadets to the beaches of Normandy for three years in a row. There, he tried to explain to them — and understand himself — why the Allied invasion was executed the way it was. “It defied common Lewis sense,” Lewis says. “A daylight assault on a deliberate defense, without long preparation?” Lewis was so intent on answering the question that it became the subject of his dissertation as a Ph.D. candidate at the Univer- Inside: Ernie sity of Chicago, which Pyle on the became the 2001 book aftermath of titled “Omaha Beach: A Normandy. Page 7A Flawed Victory.” As the world marks the 70th anniversary of the Normandy invasion’s first day, known as D-Day,
Mike Yoder/Journal-World Photos
AUCTIONEER DIRK SOULIS OF DIRK SOULIS AUCTIONS, Lone Jack, Mo., prepares for an estate auction that starts at 9 a.m. today at the Judge Nelson T. Stephens House, 340 N. Michigan St. The event will feature a collection of 18th and 19th century art, artifacts and antiques. LJWORLD.COM: See a photo gallery of auction items including this jewelry, below.
Centuries-old treasures up for grabs today By Chad Lawhorn clawhorn@ljworld.com
I
t’s not every day that you can lay your hands on a heavy iron stick topped with a gold inlaid cow’s head. Then again, it’s not every day that the late George Allen’s collection goes up for auction. “My dad was just a born col-
lector,” said Debby Nelson. “He had his regular stops he would make at antique stores and dealers. He did that for at least 65 years. I remember going into so many antique shops and being told not to touch this or that.” Today, area residents will get a chance to not only see Allen’s
INSIDE Business Classified Comics Deaths
Low: 67
Today’s forecast, page 10A
Shutterstock Photo
Please see WONDERS, page 2A
Thunderstorms
High: 83
Please see D-DAY, page 7A
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Retrial could relocate
Vol.156/No.155 30 pages
The retrial of a 2004 murder case in which Martin Miller was convicted of killing his wife could move outside Douglas County if the defense requests it. Page 3A
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