'I don't know how anybody could be so stupid,' 92-year-old victim says of defendant
Gregory Howard representing self in Collinsburg home invasion trial
Testimony opened Tuesday in the trial against a Monessen man charged with tying-up and robbing a 92-year-old Westmoreland County woman at her home.
Police allege Gregory Howard and two friends robbed Frances "Fannie" Tekavec at her Collinsburg home in October. Howard is representing himself in court.
VIDEO: Watch Ashlie Hardway's report
During opening arguments, the prosecutor told jurors about the attack that left Tekavec and her dog, Daisy, injured. Tekavec reported thousands of dollars worth of jewelry, coins and cash were stolen from her home.
"My back is bad, my neck did not heal. I'm walking around with this, I guess, the rest of my life," Tekavec said Tuesday. "I wake up many a night in a sweat after the bad dreams."
Howard told jurors that the commonwealth doesn't have any evidence against him. He also said if jurors believe the Commonwealth's evidence, then they must believe in the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus, too. Tekavec said Howard's representation of himself is stupid.
"I think that's terrible. I don't know how anybody could be so stupid. It's so stupid," Tekavec said. "I hope he gets a good stiff sentence."
Tekavec took the stand Tuesday morning and described for jurors the pain and injuries she sustained in the attack. She testified the three men were covered and wore something over their faces, but she could determine that two of her attackers were black and one was white.
During cross-examination, Howard asked Tekavec several questions to determine if she could remember dates, times and the frequency that she spoke with police. Numerous times, Tekavec said she couldn't recall specific details, and Howard said that showed she couldn't remember things.
When prosecutors could question Tekavec again, they clarified that she remembered the incident inside her home vividly and that the information she gave police at the time was factual. Tekavec said there is no question that Howard was one of the men inside her home.
"No doubt. No doubt. I picked him out. I can tell by his voice. I can tell by his eyes, with the hood on," Tekavec said, adding she is no longer afraid of Howard. "There's enough cops around to handle him. He might be fat, but they could take care of him."
Judge Rita Hathaway had to reprimand Howard several times from her bench, even telling him at one point that she wasn't there to teach him how to be a lawyer.
Howard is the first suspect to go on trial in the case. Co-defendants Lamont Dixon and Branddon Danilchak are still awaiting trial. Dixon's former girlfriend, Bobbi Drdul, previously entered a guilty plea in the case. Drdul was charged with hindering apprehension and receiving stolen property after lying about Dixon's whereabouts and keeping some of Tekavec's items inside her car after the robbery.
Drdul testified that Dixon had her car the morning of the robbery and that he used her car for the crime. Drdul also told jurors that Dixon called her several times that morning from Howard's phone and that Dixon told her he committed the robbery with Howard and Danilchak.
During Wednesday's testimony, Danilchak testified about the robbery and identified Howard and Dixon as participants. Danilchak testified he was sorry for his involvement and said Howard was the one who ordered them to find the safe and hurt Tekavec's dog.
Surveillance video was also shown in court. In it, three men can be seen in dark clothing with a white bag in one of the men's hands. Danilchak said the three men in the video were himself, Dixon and Howard. Howard denied being one of the men in the video.
"I feel sorry them. I'm at the end of my rope, but they have a lifetime to go -- enough time to think things over, if they have a brain in their heads," Tekavec said Tuesday.
Testimony continues Thursday at the Westmoreland County Courthouse.