East Huntingdon woman seeks dismissal of 1st-degree murder charge

An East Huntingdon woman in jail since September on charges of fatally shooting a former boyfriend claimed in court documents filed Monday there is no evidence she intended to kill her victim.

Adam Gorzelsky, the lawyer for Meghan West, 24, asked a Westmoreland County judge to dismiss a first-degree murder count filed against her in connection with the Sept. 20 killing of her former boyfriend. Police said West fired two shots through a locked bedroom door that separated her from Andrew Pristas following an argument and physical altercation.

Pristas, 33, of Greensburg died after he was struck with one round in his upper back at West’s Fieldstone Lane home near Ruffs Dale.

According to testimony from a preliminary hearing in October, police said West claimed she and Pristas argued over something on her cellphone and she was pushed by Pristas before she retreated to her bedroom and locked the door. Police said West contended Pristas attempted to break down the door so she took out a pistol and fired one shot left of the door as a warning then fired a second round that went through the door.

“There was no testimony presented establishing that Ms. West knew the precise location of Mr. Pristas or his vital body parts when she pulled the trigger,” Gorzelsky wrote in the court filing. “In fact, the only circumstantial evidence presented regarding this issue supports the conclusion that Ms. West did not intend to kill Mr. Pristas. Specifically, she told police that she intended to stop Mr. Pristas but did not state that she intended to kill him.”

Gorzelsky said West immediately called 911 for help and attempted “lifesaving efforts” after she discovered his injuries.

Police charged West with a general criminal homicide offense and first-degree murder.

West is in Westmoreland County Prison without bond. Gorzelsky said, with no evidence of intent, Westmoreland County Judge Scott Mears should dismiss the first-degree murder count and allow for a bond to be set in the case that could allow West to await trial on a lesser charge from home rather than behind bars.

Westmoreland County District Attorney John Peck on Monday defended the first-degree murder charge. Peck said he believes there is sufficient evidence to prove West fired two shots, including the second fatal round, at a target where she reasonably expected Pristas to be located.

“Firing a deadly weapon at or near a vital part of a person’s body can be inferred as an intent to kill,” Peck said.