Another court decision has maintained that Bradford businessman Stephen Stidd will not be released on bail before he stands trial for the shooting of his former son-in-law.
The court decision was a response by the state Superior Court to a defense motion for reconsideration of an order denying bail.
Stidd, 65, was incarcerated without bail on April 18 on one charge of criminal homicide for the Jan. 16, 2015, death of Melvin Bizzarro.
Stidd’s attorneys, Greg Henry and James P. Miller, had petitioned for bail after his arrest — a request that was denied. The attorneys then appealed the denial to the state Superior Court. On July 19, the Superior Court agreed that Stidd was not entitled to bail. The defense filed an application for reconsideration on Aug. 2.
Last week, the Superior Court denied the application for reconsideration as well.
Meanwhile, Stidd’s attorneys have also filed a motion at the McKean County Court of Common Pleas asking for a modification of his pre-trial incarceration. Stidd is seeking house arrest with electronic monitoring to accommodate his health issues.
Court records do not indicate that this motion has been answered.
According to the motion to modify pre-trial incarceration, the attorneys are asking Senior Judge John Cleland to allow a hearing so Stidd’s personal physician can testify about his medical conditions, which included elevated blood pressure, pain and limited range of motion in his back and neck and pinched nerves in his back.
The doctor indicated the conditions in the jail are “adversely affecting (Stidd’s) health and may lead to a life-threatening medical illness in the near future,” court records stated.
The trial is scheduled to begin Oct. 23.
On the morning of Jan. 16, 2015 — the day of the shooting — Stidd and Bizzarro were allegedly arguing in the parking lot behind Togi’s Restaurant, owned by Stidd, when Bizzarro died of a single gunshot wound to the chest.
During the court proceedings for the case, the defense has never denied that Stidd pulled the trigger, but they assert that Stidd shot Bizzarro in self-defense.
