Deadly Road Rage Beating Trial Begins

Philly man blames late father, who was a firefighter, in deadly beating

The attorney for a Philadelphia man says his client's late father is to blame for a pedestrian's April 2010 death.

Opening statements began Tuesday in the murder trial of 23-year-old Gerard Shaffer Jr.

Fifty-four-year-old Mark Wallace died after what began as a verbal altercation while he crossed the street in front of an SUV driven by the defendant's father, Gerard Shaffer Sr.

Police said both Shaffers got out, the father shoving Wallace and the son throwing Wallace to the ground, causing head trauma.

Wallace died after 13 days on life support.

Shaffer's father, a 23-year veteran of the Philadelphia Fire Department, was charged but died of a heart attack in 2011.

Defense attorney Coley Reynolds said his client was trying to stop the fight.

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Assistant District Attorney Peter Lim said the defendant “wanted to be a tough guy” like his father, a former firefighter.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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