Trial Begins In Kmart Dragging Death
Attorneys presented opening arguments Monday in the trial of a Pontiac couple charged with murdering a Kmart security guard.
Samantha Lomasney, 20, and James Woodworth, 40, are accused in the dragging death of 36-year-old Greg Wainio back in January.
Wainio, who worked as a loss prevention officer, suspected the pair of stealing CDs from the store at 3541 Highland Road in Waterford Township.
Police said he grabbed onto the couple's vehicle while Lomasney was driving and was dragged more than 200 feet.
Wainio was crushed when the vehicle hit a concrete pillar.
Outside the courtroom Monday, the victim's brother, John Wainio talked about the pain his family is suffering.
"I am a father, and losing my brother is very tough. But, as a parent, I can never imagine losing any of my children, and it's going to be very tough for them [our parents] -- that's what makes it so tough for me, is to see my family [hurting]," John Wainio said, tearfully.
"I'm the oldest child, and my brother was eleven months younger than me," he said.
Lomasney and Woodworth are charged with first-degree felony murder and unarmed robbery. "They murdered him as he was doing his duty," said Assistant Prosecutor Jason Perncik.
Defense attorneys told jurors that they should keep an open mind and consider a lessor charge in the case.
Assistant Prosecutor Jason Perncik said the jury would find no evidence that the couple intended to hurt the victim, saying Lomasney had swerved to avoid hitting another.
"They're not going to be able to prove this was a murder," he said.
The pair will be tried simultaneously, but by different juries. If convicted, they could face life in prison.
"In my heart of hearts, I don't want anything less than the first-degree murder [conviction]. Fact of the matter is -- my brother is dead by the result of what these two individuals chose to do," John Wainio said.
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