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WWE Hall of Famer Jimmy Snuka took the stand today as the hearings into whether Snuka was mentally competent to stand trial on charges of involuntary manslaughter and third-degree murder in the 1983 death of his then-girlfriend Nancy Argentino in Allentown, PA.
According to The Allentown Morning Call, Snuka was on the stand for a little over an hour and was questioned by the presiding Judge in the case, Kelly L. Banach. During the questioning, Snuka was not aware this was an Election year and could not name politicians or sports personalities, although he admitted he regularly watched the news. He stated he did not know who would sit in the Jurors' box during a trial, responding it would be Judges and referred to Judge Banach as "hon" and "sister."
Snuka was far more animated when discussing professional wrestling, although when the Judge provided the wrong nickname for Dwayne Johnson, calling him "The Stone", Snuka agreed that was his nickname. Snuka admitted that promoters determine who wins and loses in pro wrestling, but stated that to him, wrestling was real. He also stated the injuries were real and that he often kept them to himself. He said he never complained about the injuries because the next time, it might be his turn to "kick" his opponent.
Snuka, when asked about Argentino, said she was a "friend" he had met at wrestling matches.
When he was asked about his own attorney, Snuka said that he felt he was doing a good job. When the Judge asked if he would do whatever the attorney told him, using jumping off a building as an example, Snuka responded, "I have done that", which made the courtroom laugh.
The Philadelphia ABC affiliate reported that Snuka was unable to remember the name of his mother when asked. Snuka was also, according to ABC, "confused" about his given name and age. Snuka turned 73 this past Wednesday.
The Morning Call reported members of Snuka's family were in tears as Snuka was questioned.
Nancy Argentino had been on the road traveling with Snuka at the time of her death. Snuka had wrestled for the WWF on 5/10/83 at a TV Taping at the Allentown Fairgrounds. When he got back to his hotel room, Snuka said that he found Argentino gasping for air and oozing yellow fluid from her nose and mouth. She died on 5/11/83 with her autopsy stating it was due to traumatic brain injures. Argentino also had a number of cuts and bruises which suggested domestic abuse. There had been an incident in New York State several weeks before where police were called due to an incident with Snuka and Argentino in a hotel.
The medical examiner's report at the time stated Argentino's injuries were consistent with being hit with a “stationary object." The forensic pathologist suggested that the case be invested as a homicide but no one was ever charged and the report was lost somewhere along the way. Snuka denied he did it and has continued to do so.
Snuka, after the case remained cold for decades, was charged last year with involuntary manslaughter and third-degree murder. The "lost" autopsy report from the medical examiner at the time being discovered by The Allentown Morning Call as they covered the 30th anniversary of Argentino's death as well as Snuka's 2012 autobiography giving a differing version of the circumstances leading to her death in comparison to what Snuka told authorities at the time led to him being indicted.
In 1983, Snuka claimed there was horseplay that led to Argentino getting hurt and he wasn't aware of the seriousness of the situation until he called for medical help after working the WWF TV taping. In his 2012 autobiography Superfly, Snuka claimed that the two stopped for Argentino to go to bathroom on the side of a road when she slipped and hit her head on a rock. He stated that he put her to bed, checked on her after wrestling for WWF, returned for another set of tapings and when he came back to the hotel after WWF had completed TV, realized the seriousness of the situation and called for an ambulance.
There was no ruling on Snuka's competency and after three days of hearings into the matter, another hearing is set for 6/21.
To read a CBS News article on today's hearing, click here.
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