SMETHPORT — The trial for Stephen Stidd continued this morning in McKean County Court, with testimony from a forensic toxicologist who talked about blood tests performed on shooting victim Melvin Bizzarro.
Dr. Edward Barbieri from NMS Labs explained he had tested two separate blood samples, sent in from two separate autopsies performed on Bizzarro — one by Dr. Eric Vey as requested by the state police, and the second several weeks later by Dr. Cyril Wecht, hired by the Stidd family. The results were substantially similar, Barbieri said, explaining there were some substances found in the second that weren’t present in the first, including cocaine.
However, he explained, he believes that was due to decomposition, and the breakdown of organs and tissues in the body.
Cross examination was underway when Judge John Cleland called a break for lunch.
The trial is scheduled to last through Tuesday.
