Murder trial deliberations begin

A jury of seven men and five women began deliberating on Wednesday the first-degree murder trial of a man accused of shooting another man in February on the lower South Hill.

Paul “Chronic” Garner, 43, went over to 1612 W. 7th Ave. on Feb. 18 at the request of a woman he knew to help get rid of the woman’s boyfriend who was refusing to leave, according to Garner’s attorney, Christian Phelps.

However, Deputy Spokane County Prosecutor Mark Cipolla said Garner, who supplied Jennifer Makaily with drugs, was the aggressor and had no reason to shoot Makaily’s boyfriend, 43-year-old Steven Sleizer.

Another witness, Scott Walls, told police that Garner forced his way into the upstairs apartment and told Sleizer, “You really screwed up this time.”

Sleizer then responded, “You don’t have to cap me for it,” according to what Walls told police.

A shot was fired, and Garner and Sleizer struggled. Garner fled the scene after the shooting and was later arrested in North Dakota.

Sleizer died hours after the shooting from gunshot wounds to the pelvis and the chest, according to court records.

“It’s always a tragedy when someone who is loved dies,” Phelps said. “But this was not a premeditated homicide.”

Police say man robbed companion

A 40-year-old man was arrested late Tuesday for allegedly knocking out his drinking companion and robbing him in downtown Spokane.

Gregory R. Cassell, also known as Gregory Cochrane, was booked into jail on suspicion of first-degree robbery.

Police said Cassell punched and kicked William P. Stewart, 40, in the head and robbed Stewart of $150 while he was unconscious.

Stewart told police the two men had been drinking in Stewart’s apartment at 110 S. Madison St. Cassell attacked Stewart after first asking to borrow some money, police said.