By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – The trial expected next week for the Randle taxidermist accused in the beating death of his father-in-law has been postponed.
[1]Erik R. Massa
Erik R. Massa, 43, was charged in February with second-degree murder in the death of Guy W. LaFontaine, a 58-year-old welder, from Federal Way.
The trial, expected to last five days, is now scheduled for the week of January 17.
LaFontaine ended up at Morton General Hospital on March 13, 2010 with two broken eye sockets and other injuries, but was released, because they couldn’t keep him in his bed, according to charging documents. LaFontaine’s wife took him to St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way where he was pronounced dead.
Massa has pleaded not guilty and remains free on $25,000 bail.
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Read background on the case:
“Randle taxidermist to face murder charge” from Tuesday Feb. 8, 2011, here [2]