ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, July 10, 1996 TAG: 9607100064
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG
SOURCE: LISA K. GARCIA STAFF WRITER
The Montgomery County Circuit Court grand jury indicted Michael Knowles on eight charges, including murder, in connection with the March 20 slaying of his estranged wife.
The grand jury also replaced two indictments against the 47-year-old Knowles - attempted malicious shooting of an officer and a related firearms charge -with two direct indictments: attempted capital murder of an officer in the commission of his duty, and use of a firearm during the attempt.
Commonwealth's Attorney Phil Keith said his office decided after Knowles' preliminary hearing in late May that evidence pointed more toward a charge of attempted capital murder rather than the lesser charge.
The remaining six indictments returned on Knowles were murder, breaking and entering to commit murder, malicious wounding and three counts of use of a firearm in relation to the first three charges.
Angie Knowles died during emergency surgery at Columbia Montgomery Regional Hospital a few hours after she was shot in the abdomen with a shotgun.
Michael Knowles was captured at his wife's home at 109 Evans St. after he allegedly fired his gun at Deputy Jeremy Williams. Willams testified at the preliminary hearing that Knowles apologized for shooting at him after Knowles realized he knew him.
Authorities found Angie Knowles inside the home with her 18-year-old daughter, Vanessa, at her side. A fingertip on Vanessa's left hand was missing. She testified that she had begged her father not to shoot and had attempted to stop him from shooting by putting her finger in the barrel of the shotgun. She said her father pulled the trigger anyway.
LENGTH: Short : 39 linesby CNB