Curlew Murder Trial Set For Late August

Thu., June 22, 2000

Curlew resident Francis D. Cota told a Ferry County judge Wednesday he is not guilty of the June 13 shooting spree and arson in which one of his friends was killed and two others were wounded.

Cota, 45, was scheduled for trial Aug. 21 on one count of first-degree murder with a firearm, two counts of attempted first-degree murder and one count of second-degree arson. Cota allegedly had been drinking with Clint and Kim Fritchman at the home of Ronald Faulkner, when a fight broke out among their dogs. Authorities said Cota kicked one of the dogs, sparking an argument that prompted him to go home and return with a gun. Faulkner was shot in the head and killed; the Fritchmans were wounded by gunshots to the head.

Faulkner’s home was destroyed by a fire Cota is accused of setting.

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