Date: Fri 20-Dec-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

police-hunting-shooting

Full Text:

Hunter Pleads Not Guilty In Shooting Death

An Oxford hunter charged with criminally negligent homicide and first-degree

reckless endangerment, in connection with the November shotgun death of a

Bridgeport hunter in Lower Paugussett State Forest, has entered not guilty

pleas to both charges in Danbury Superior Court.

On Monday, David M. Alechnowicz, 39, of Oxford, received a continuance in the

case to January 6.

State police charged Mr Alechnowicz with the two Class A misdemeanors after

investigating the November 2 shotgun killing of Bridgeport hunter Scott A.

DiBecelle, 28.

Mr Alechnowicz was hunting turkey, and Mr DiBecelle was hunting coyote. Police

allege Mr Alechnowicz mistook the fully-camouflaged Mr DiBecelle for a turkey

and fired a shotgun at him, killing him.

Mr DiBecelle wasn't wearing fluorescent orange clothing as is required by

state hunting regulations.

Mr Alechnowicz didn't identify his target as legal game before firing the

shotgun, resulting in the two charges.