Was it murder or a mistake? A man’s life will be determined by a jury after he says he was cleaning his gun and accidentally killed his pregnant girlfriend and her unborn baby.
This will be a tough case for the jury to decide because the only witness to this shooting is the shooter, 23-year-old Matthew Becker. Becker says he didn’t mean to kill anyone.
It was late on the evening of August 12, 2011, and Becker had just finished cleaning his new pistol in his Mastersonville, Lancaster County home.
While holding the firearm, he walked over to his bed, where his pregnant girlfriend 21-year-old Allison Walsh, was lying. And that is when it went off, hitting her in the head and killing her instantly. Her unborn baby died soon after.
Becker says he was trying to put down the hammer when the gun fired. He didn’t realize it was loaded.
Prosecutors say he was abusive towards Walsh and such an avid gun collector would not make such a mistake.
Wednesday in court, the doctor who performed the autopsy on Walsh and her baby girl took the stand. He described how she was shot directly in the forehead and ruled it a homicide. However, he did admit during cross examination that medically, he can’t prove if it were intentional.
Becker’s trial is expected to last into next week. Becker has been in jail since being arrested back in the summer of 2011.
Becker faces first degree murder and the death penalty if convicted.
This will be a tough case for the jury to decide because the only witness to this shooting is the shooter, 23-year-old Matthew Becker. Becker says he didn’t mean to kill anyone.
It was late on the evening of August 12, 2011, and Becker had just finished cleaning his new pistol in his Mastersonville, Lancaster County home.
While holding the firearm, he walked over to his bed, where his pregnant girlfriend 21-year-old Allison Walsh, was lying. And that is when it went off, hitting her in the head and killing her instantly. Her unborn baby died soon after.
Becker says he was trying to put down the hammer when the gun fired. He didn’t realize it was loaded.
Prosecutors say he was abusive towards Walsh and such an avid gun collector would not make such a mistake.
Wednesday in court, the doctor who performed the autopsy on Walsh and her baby girl took the stand. He described how she was shot directly in the forehead and ruled it a homicide. However, he did admit during cross examination that medically, he can’t prove if it were intentional.
Becker’s trial is expected to last into next week. Becker has been in jail since being arrested back in the summer of 2011.
Becker faces first degree murder and the death penalty if convicted.