THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 22, 1996 TAG: 9605220188
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MANTEO LENGTH: 69 lines
A 22-year-old construction worker charged in the death of his housemate and the wounding of a Marine reservist told police after he was arrested that he shot both men in self-defense because he feared for his life, authorities testified Tuesday.
Josh Hilliard Cathey, 22, is on trial for second-degree murder in the July 22, 1995 slaying of Matthew Addelman and the assault of Lance Cpl. Carlos Bonafonte.
Kill Devil Hills Police Officer Mark Grant testified Tuesday that Cathey told him he had fired the shots that killed the 22-year-old waiter, who had recently moved to the Outer Banks from Sea Isle, N.J.
``I asked him who was doing the shooting,'' Grant said. ``He said, `I was. I shot them. I thought I was going to get my ass kicked.' ''
However, one of four Marines who were in the Kill Devil Hills house Cathey and Addelman shared with two other people testified that on the night of the shooting there was no attempt to harm or threaten the defendant.
Lance Cpl. Pat Lurenz said that Addelman was attempting to evict Cathey when Cathey shot him with a 9 mm pistol
In opening statements, Assistant District Attorney Jeff Cruden said that medical evidence would show that Addelman was shot four times in the back, and that Cathey was not trying to defend himself.
Cathey's attorney, however, portrayed the defendant as a ``quiet, punctual, reliable and dependable'' person, who sought to protect himself.
Cathey received a severe cut to the temple when he was hit by a thrown object, police said, and was covered with blood after the shooting. Clad only in boxer shorts, Cathey put the gun on a car in the driveway, and surrendered to authorities, police said.
During Grant's testimony, the eight man, four-woman Superior Court jury were shown photographs showing Addelman's body shortly after the shooting. His parents wept softly as the evidence was presented.
Cathey sublet one of three bedrooms in the two-story home located at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac in Kill Devil Hills. However, Addelman and two other housemates were angry because Cathey had fallen behind in his rent payments and in payment of an electricity deposit.
Addleman had changed the locks on the home, and sought to evict Cathey. The simmering dispute exploded at about 4:30 a.m. on July 22.
In opening arguments Tuesday, Defense Attorney G. Irvin Aldridge said the evidence would show that Addelman offered four Marines $25 each to help get Cathey out of the house.
However, testifying for the prosecution, Lurenz said there was no discussion of money or a plan to forcibly remove Cathey from the residence. Lurenz had come to the Outer Banks with Bonafonte and two other Marines after completing training at Camp Lejeune. Lurenz testified the four met Addelman at a party, discussed going surfing, and went to his home later to get boards and equipment.
Lurenz said that he, Bonafonte, and the two other Marines accompanied Addelman to a bedroom where Cathey, who had entered the house through a window, was sleeping. Lurenz testified that Addleman ``went into the room, flipped the light on, and said `You're thrown out. I'm asking you to leave.' ''
A fight broke out, Lurenz testified, and he and Bonafonte backed out of the room, and into another upstairs bedroom, after hearing someone say Cathey had a gun. Lurenz said he heard Addelman and Cathey scuffling on the stairs, and then heard three or four shots. During the shooting, Bonafonte was wounded in the elbow.
Lurenz testified he was hiding, and heard several more shots.
After the shooting ended, Lurenz and Bonafonte went to a neighboring house and asked the residents to alert authorities. Kill Devil Hills police arrived a short time later.
The trial goes into its third day today.
KEYWORDS: MURDER TRIAL by CNB