
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, June 14, 1994                    TAG: 9406140332 
SECTION: LOCAL                     PAGE: B3    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT 
DATELINE: 940614                                 LENGTH: NORFOLK

MURDER CHARGE AGAINST MAN WITHDRAWN

{LEAD} A murder charge filed against a Norfolk man were withdrawn in Circuit Court Monday because a key witness could not be located. The charge can be brought again.

Larry B. Knight was charged with first-degree murder and use of a firearm in the May 1993 slaying of 22-year-old Sean Gutterman in his apartment in Wards Corner.

{REST} At first, police issued a murder warrant for another man, Gregory Williams, based on a statement Knight made to police, court records show.

But detectives later learned that Knight had shot at Williams two or three nights before the murder. In addition, hospital records showed Williams had a hand injury and could not have fired a gun, Williams said in an interview.

Police found Gutterman shot to death in his apartment in the 7600 block of Bondale Ave. when they responded to a tripped burglary alarm. Witnesses told police they heard the apartment door being broken open and several shots being fired. They said they saw three men running from the area just before the body was found.

Knight is still in Norfolk City Jail awaiting trial on burglary charges.

{KEYWORDS} MURDER

by CNB