New Kensington man claims jury erred in Arnold slaying case

May 9—The lawyer for a New Kensington man serving a life sentence for a 2020 murder argued his client's claims of self defense were not properly considered by a Westmoreland County jury.

Assistant Public Defender John Sweeney said evidence presented last year during a weeklong trial did not support the jury finding that Mario Matthew Gatti, 33, was guilty of first-degree, second-degree and third-degree murder in connection with killing of Michael Coover Jr.

Prosecutors said Gatti stormed into an Arnold home and fired two shots at an unarmed Coover as he stood in a kitchen.

Gatti contended he only intended to speak with Coover to discuss previous violent threats that stemmed from a $300 drug debt. Gatti testified he fired his weapon in self-defense after Coover splashed him with cooking oil and feared he was about to be hit with a kitchen implement.

"Mr. Gatti's intent when he walked into the house was not to inflict serious bodily injury. The first shot was unintentional, and the second shot was because the victim stood over him and was going to hit him with a pot," Sweeney argued during a hearing Tuesday. "We don't believe the commonwealth showed evidence that he wasn't under threat."

Assistant District Attorney Katie Ranker argued the jury's verdict was supported by the evidence.

"There was overwhelming evidence of intent to kill. There was evidence of a motive and evidence that he entered the house with a gun in hand," Ranker said.

The defense also contended Westmoreland County Common Pleas Judge Christopher Feliciani abused his discretion when he ordered Gatti to serve additional consecutive sentences of 21 to 45 years in prison for burglary and threats made against others in the home at the time of the fatal shooting.

The judge said he will review the arguments and rule on the appeal later this year.

Rich Cholodofsky is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Rich by email at rcholodofsky@triblive.com or via Twitter .