SCRANTON — During opening statements in the murder trial of Shelton Miles on Tuesday, the prosecution and the defense told jurors that both sides agreed on the fundamental facts of the case.
But, Lackawanna County District Attorney Brian Gallagher and defense attorney Curt Parkins presented different accounts of Miles’ mental condition when he fatally wounded Jose Miguel Tatis-Camilo and shot cashier Gopi Soni in the leg during a robbery the evening of March 7, 2024, at the Sunoco convenience mart on North Main Avenue.
Gallagher presented a picture of Miles deliberately planning a robbery, a plan which included avoiding detection and getting rid of the gun used in the crime.
Parkins told jurors Miles was suffering from dementia the night of the crime and unable to understand the consequences of his actions, pointing out the garbage bag Miles wore to avoid being identified didn’t even cover his face.
Miles is pleading not guilty by reason of insanity.
Miles, 65, of 401 W. Market St., is charged with first-, second-, and third-degree murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault, robbery and possession of a prohibited firearm. Dressed in a blue shirt, dress pants and wearing eyeglasses, he sat quietly through Tuesday’s proceedings.
Opening statements
Gallagher walked the jury through Miles’ actions before and after he entered the convenience store, which he described as “deliberate, planned, intentional and premeditated.”
He pointed out that, before leaving his residence on West Market Street, Miles grabbed several large black garbage bags to be used to prevent him from being identified on surveillance footage.
Miles then chose a less-traveled route to get to the convenience store, avoiding well-lit areas, Gallagher said.
Gallagher showed jurors surveillance footage, which showed Miles donning one of the bags before entering the store.
After entering the store and shooting both Tatis-Camilo and Soni, Miles took money from the cash register and fled.
On his way back to his apartment, Miles discarded the handgun he had used in the shootings and it was never found, Gallagher said.
Once back at his apartment building, he put his clothes in the washing machine in an effort to hide evidence, he said.
Gallagher pointed out that not only had Miles taken the life of an innocent man, he also severely injured Soni, who had feared for her life and was unable to walk for three months.
He told jurors the evidence to be presented by the prosecution in the case “absolutely demonstrates that this was not the result of mental illness or insanity.”
Defense opens
Parkins told jurors the legal definition of “insanity” is much different than depictions shown in movies such as the “The Shining” or “One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest.”
Miles suffers from dementia brought on by post-traumatic stress disorder following military service, alcoholism and diabetes, Parkins said.
“Mr. Miles has brain damage, which has left him with dementia,” he said. “That was the condition his brain was in.”
Parkins said the defense did not contest many of the facts presented by the prosecution and would not cross-examine many of their witnesses.
Instead, the crux of his case would be testimony from Dr. Jeffrey Fremont, a psychologist who spent time with Miles and tested him extensively, determining he wasn’t capable of understanding his actions at the time.
Parkins told jurors Miles recognized his illness himself and reached out to his doctors at the veterans administration, who had scheduled an MRI and other testing for April, appointments which Miles never made.
Parkins said should Miles be found “not guilty” be reason of insanity, he would not walk free, but would be committed to a mental health facility for treatment and evaluation.
Testimony begins
Testimony in the case opened with Soni, who described the events of March 7, 2024, breaking down in tears several times.
Soni said Tatis-Camilo came in at about 10:45 p.m. and she first thought, “I hope he doesn’t want coffee because I’m not making more.”
As Tatis-Camilo was paying for cigarettes, he and Soni were chatting about Indian culture, which includes joining the palms together with a slight bow instead of shaking hands.
Soni said she suddenly became aware of a “weird man” peering inside the store wearing a garbage bag.
When the man, later identified as Miles, entered the store, he immediately shot Tatis-Camilo, who fell to the ground.
Soni said Miles then came to the back of the register area and lifted his gun toward her head and said, “Give me money or I’ll kill you” and shot her in her left thigh.
When Miles’ attention turned to the cash register, she was able to escape to a nearby business.
Officer body cam footage showed officers applying a tourniquet above Soni’s wound to stop the bleeding and Soni crying out in pain.
Soni, who appeared shaken during her testimony, said she was unable to walk for three months, needed regular physical therapy and still had some leg pain.
Charlene Fanning, Tatis-Camilo’s fiancée, recalled him leaving the house to get a pack of cigarettes from the convenience store shortly before it closed at 11 p.m.
When Tatis-Camilo didn’t immediately return and Fanning saw police lights coming from the area of the convenience store, she knew something was wrong, she said.
She soon found out her fiancé had been taken to the Geisinger Community Medical Center with a gunshot wound to his head. He died two days later.
Fanning said neither she nor Tatis-Camilo had met Miles before the night of the fatal shooting.
The trial is expected to continue through the end of the week.