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02/22/2012 05:48 PM

Trial for man accused of double homicide begins

By: Web Staff

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SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PA. -- The Susquehanna County man accused in a double homicide will be tried for the crime.

Lloyd Thomas, 45, of Hallstead was in district court Wednesday for a preliminary hearing. A standing-room only crowd listened, as investigators explained how the victims, Gilberto Alvarez and Joshua Rogers, went to Thomas' house on Pine Ayre Road after noticing their car had been shot while they were driving.

The two men approached the house from different sides. And at that point, the shooting occurred.

George Lepley, Defense Attorney said, “They sneak up through the woods, they surround the house, actually ones in front of the house, one is behind the house. The man is inside and his dogs are going crazy, then the shooting occurs. I don't think we really know, I don't think anyone knows really, how that shooting happened."

Jason Legg, Susquehanna County District Attorney said, “It seems pretty clear from the get go that this will be a situation where Mr. Thomas will claim that he acted in self-defense. From our perspective the state police investigation revealed that Alvarez had no weapon where he was shot through the temple and that any weapon that was found was quite a distance away from the residence."

Family and friends of Alvarez and Rogers were in court Wednesday.

After hearing the testimony the Judge ruled that there would be a trial and did not set bail for Thomas.

Attorneys said this may be the first case in Pennsylvania where the Castle Statute comes into play, which expands the manner in which deadly force can be used to protect a person or their home.

It is possible that the prosecution could seek the death penalty.