Innocent Plea Entered In Manslaughter Case

Wed., Sept. 13, 2000

Daniel D. Matz, 51, pleaded innocent Tuesday to first-degree manslaughter in the shooting death last Wednesday of a friend who entered Matz’s Republic-area home to greet him.

Matz allegedly was in a drunken sleep when his friend Casey N. Berg, 39, of South Dakota, awakened him. Berg was shot once in the chest with a .22-caliber pistol that authorities say Matz had near his bed.

Ferry County Prosecutor Steve Graham contends Matz did not have the “reasonable” fear state law requires for self-defense, but Public Defender Ron Hammett plans to mount the defense anyway.

Superior Court Judge Larry Kristianson released Matz from jail without bail, pending trial in November, on condition that he surrender any firearms he still has, refrain from drinking alcohol and submit to alcohol testing.

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