Tuesday, July 7, 2009

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2nd trial in fatal stabbing begins

PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- The second trial of a black Pittsfield man charged with fatally stabbing a white teen during a racially charged fight has started.

Tyson Benoit was convicted in January 2007 of killing Anthony Hopkins. Benoit, now 20, claimed he stabbed the 18-year-old Hopkins in May 2005 after the white man yelled a racial epithet and threatened to stab him.

Benoit's lawyers argued on appeal that their client's constitutional rights were violated because prosecutors did not give adequate reasons for excluding a black woman as a juror.

The Supreme Judicial Court agreed, and by a 5-4 margin threw out the second-degree murder conviction last August and ordered a new trial.

Jury selection started Monday and opening statements are expected Wednesday in Berkshire Superior Court.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)