Woman Accused Of Fatally Shooting Niece On Wedding Day Will Go To Trial
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – A woman accused of shooting and killing her niece just hours after her wedding in Beaver County will go to trial.
Christina Nicole George-Harvan, 30, was ordered to stand trial today for the shooting death of her niece, 21-year-old Katelyn Francis of Fairview, W. Va.
"It's just terrible. You could see in the courtroom today how much we love her, how much we support her, and it's heartbreaking I know because of her niece," said Faye Acon, a family friend. "It's heartbreaking."
Police were called to Jimmy K's Bar and Grille in New Brighton a little more than a week ago after reports of a gunshot in the parking lot.
That's where the shooting happened on a day that was supposed to be filled with happy memories. Investigators say the two argued over who would drive home.
"It's just devastating," says Acon. "I can't believe it's happening. Last Friday, we thought we'd be as happy as ever. We were going to the reception at The Wooden Angel, sit-down dinner, and today, it's just been like a bad dream. You're going to wake up and say this isn't happening."
But the defense argues what happened was accidental, not intentional.
"Our theory of the case is it was an accident," says defense attorney Steve Colafella. "It was an accidental discharge; she was handling a gun. It's been portrayed as something that it really isn't . It was just a night of drinking and something occurred. It was not something as acrimonious as they might lead you to believe."
But at this point she is ordered to stand trial on a criminal homicide charge. That trial may not come up until next year.
George-Harvan is from Conway.
RELATED LINKS
Police: Aunt Shoots Niece Dead Hours After Wedding, Over Argument About Who's Driving Home (4/24/14)
More Beaver County News
More Reports by Harold Hayes
Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page
Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter