ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) – A Pennsylvania judge is set to hear testimony Friday on whether former professional wrestling star Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka is mentally competent to stand trial in the death of his mistress more than three decades ago.
Snuka is charged with third-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter in the 1983 death of 23-year-old Nancy Argentino of New York. Snuka has pleaded not guilty, and his lawyer has called Argentino’s death an “unfortunate accident.”
Defense attorney Robert Kirwan II says Snuka, now 72 and living in Camden County, New Jersey, has early onset dementia and post-concussion syndrome, and the former WWE star doesn’t understand the charges or even knows that he was arrested.
Argentino was found dead after authorities were called to an Allentown-area hotel room she was sharing with Snuka. An autopsy determined she died of brain trauma.