Charge thrown out in deadly Oswego stabbing

[GA-Beta]

Charge thrown out in deadly Oswego stabbing
Man, 27, admitted to the killing; lawyer says client acted in self-defense.
Friday, April 07, 2006

By Douglass Dowty
Staff writer

An Oswego man mistakenly targeted by a group of fraternity brothers will not be prosecuted for fatally stabbing one with a double-edged knife.

A grand jury on Thursday dismissed a charge of first-degree manslaughter against Christopher A. Motola, 27, of 108 Fifth Ave., Apt. A. Motola admitted he fatally stabbed 22-year-old Luis Antonetti, a Zeta Beta Tau fraternity member, during an early morning confrontation on Motola's porch.

Antonetti arrived with seven to 14 other fraternity brothers and personally smashed a window, broke a porch light, damaged a mailbox and punched Motola in the face before Motola stabbed him repeatedly with an eight- or nine-inch knife Feb. 18, said District Attorney Donald Dodd, citing findings from his office's own investigation.
_Advertisement
_

Motola also stabbed Andrew Aguado, 19, and Jeremy Schnaufer, 22, city police said. Both were treated for varying injuries at local hospitals.

"In no respect does it appear Mr. Motola had done anything to initiate physical contact with anyone," Dodd said.

Police said that the fraternity brothers planned to vandalize the house of a rival fraternity, but picked on the wrong house.

"Many of them were significantly under the influence of alcohol, to the point of being intoxicated," Dodd said, citing interviews with both residents and fraternity members.