Regola Trial: In-Law Says Gun Was Gift To Son

POSTED: 2:20 pm EDT July 10, 2008
UPDATED: 11:47 am EDT July 11, 2008

GREENSBURG, Pa. -- A gun that state Sen. Robert Regola gave his son for Christmas in 2003 is the same weapon that killed the son's 14-year-old friend in Hempfield Township, the senator's estranged brother-in-law said Thursday.

David Depetris testified at the Westmoreland County Courthouse in the second day of Regola's trial on perjury and reckless endangerment charges related to the death of neighbor Louis Farrell, who was found in the woods behind the Farrell family's home in July 2006.

Depetris said he did not think the gift was appropriate for young Bobby Regola, given that the senator's son was just 14. "It was his favorite gift," he added.

Regola, 45, is charged with perjury because prosecutors believe he lied during a county coroner's inquest when he said the gun was never stored in his son's bedroom.

A state trooper testified that Regola told him otherwise, but Regola denied it, and prosecutors said the police notes of that conversation were somehow destroyed.

Defense attorney Charles Porter challenged Depetris' motives, and Depetris acknowledged he did not tell authorities about the gun being a gift until his estranged wife -- Regola's sister -- filed a protection-from-abuse order against him in April.

The prosecution rested its case Thursday afternoon. Later, the defense rested without calling Regola as a witness.

On the day before he was found dead, Farrell had keys to the Regola house so he could feed their dogs. The senator and his wife were in Harrisburg and Bobby was at a park. The son told authorities he found the gun missing when he came home that night.

Bobby called the senator, who said he asked his brother to check on the house, but prosecutors say the senator should have called the Farrell family or the police about the missing gun. Farrell was found shot to death the next morning.

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