Central Fresno man pleads not guilty to killing neighbor in city's 22nd murder this year
Accused killer John Gentry appeared in a red jumpsuit on Monday as he stood before a judge on one count of murder for the death of his neighbor, Mark Tarasevic, last week.
"Enter not guilty pleas at this time, denying all allegations," Public Defender Tina Wong said.
Crime scene tape remains visible near the 74-year-old's Central Fresno home.
Police were called to Clinton Avenue and Bond Street last Tuesday for a report of a gunshot, and investigators say Tarasevic later died from a single bullet to the upper body.
They branded it a "neighbor disturbance."
"Was it an argument between the two?" Action News Legal Analyst Tony Capozzi said. "Did the victim have a gun, and was this self-defense?"
Capozzi is now raising questions as police say they recovered the murder weapon.
"What needs to be found out or determined is did the police do (a) gunshot residue (test) of this defendant?" Capozzi said. "Did they check his hands? Did it compare to the gun that was found? Can we show that that gun was used in this particular incident?"
Gentry asked for a delay on Monday, pushing back the critical preliminary hearing when prosecutors will make their case.
"Your attorney had indicated that you will be waving the 10-court-day rule, but not the 60-court-day rule. Did you hear your attorney say that?" Fresno County Superior Court Judge Robert Mangano said.
"Yes," Gentry answered.
"(It was) a very wise choice by the defense attorney to waive the 10-day limit for the preliminary hearing," Capozzi told Action News. "The police reports are probably not done. It's the holiday season. It's going to take time."
With the investigation still underway, Gentry is ordered back to court on January 22 and again on February 5.
He remains in the Fresno County Jail on a $1.5 million bail.
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