2nd murder trial starts in Torrington bike club shooting

LITCHFIELD, Conn. (AP) - A Watertown man accused of murdering the president of a Torrington motorcycle club is on trial for the second time in more than two years.

A Litchfield Superior Court judge declared a mistrial in July 2009 after jurors deadlocked on whether Kevin Campbell fatally shot Roland Lagasse outside the Forbidden Motorcycle Club in Torrington in June 2008.

The Republican American reports (http://bit.ly/yKtSir ) that testimony during the first trial showed Lagasse argued with Campbell's brother, James, about whether a new member of the club should receive his first-year patch. Campbell said at his first trial he raised the gun to defend himself and it accidentally fired.

On Tuesday, witness Jennifer Mercado recalled the confrontation. She said she heard Campbell say, "you're a dead man," and said she then heard a gunshot.

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Information from: Republican-American, http://www.rep-am.com