WWE Hall of Famer Jimmy Snuka will not go on trial as scheduled on March 22nd in regards to the involuntary manslaughter and third-degree murder charges in the death of his then-girlfriend Nancy Argentino in Allentown, Pennsylvania in 1983 according to a report from PWInsider.com.
The report notes that during a hearing today in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, Snuka’s defense attorney Robert J. Kirwan claimed that he was not mentally competent to stand trial and that the court ordered Snuka to be tested on his mental competence and that his trial is cancelled until the results of the testing are determined. Snuka’s attorney claimed that he initially believed Snuka had a diminished mental capacity due to the side effects of his battle with stomach cancer but has since realized that Snuka has little understanding of what is happening to him, why he is being represented and claimed no memory of Argentino’s death and that Snuka’s attorney also claimed he tested positive for signs of dementia in 2010 and that he has been unable to have any real conversation with Snuka about the case.
The report also states that Charles Gallagher, the District Attorney prosecuting Snuka argued to the court that Snuka had a career as an entertainer, alleging that Snuka was acting the part, leading to the judge to order testing and that the competency hearing, with experts from both sides weighing in on Snuka, will take place on March 18th and should Snuka be found mentally competent, the trial will be put back on the docket for a later date, however, if he is not found competent, it is unknown as to what the next step may be.