Philipsburg man found guilty of murder in stabbing death of 41-year-old man
A jury found a 36-year-old Philipsburg man guilty of murder in the third degree Thursday in the Centre County Courthouse.
Fernando Rosado-Guzman was convicted of stabbing and killing a 41-year-old man, Brian Lyncha, after an argument last August about a bluetooth speaker in Rush Township. Rosado-Guzman claimed self-defense, but the jury decided otherwise after deliberations that spanned two days and lasted about nine-and-a-half hours.
President Judge Pamela Ruest said sentencing would occur sometime in September. Rosado-Guzman faces a maximum sentence of 20-40 years.
About a dozen people gathered in the courtroom Thursday afternoon, leaning forward to hear the jury foreman’s softspoken verdict. One woman gasped after “not guilty” was read following the more-serious charge of murder in the first degree (malicious and with intent to kill), but two women sitting behind the defendant then tearfully embraced when “guilty” was read after the charge of murder in the third degree (malicious but without intent to kill).
Centre County Deputy District Attorney Megan McGoron said she was “extremely pleased” with the jury’s verdict.
“We have to remember why we’re here, and that’s because we lost a life,” she said after the verdict, which saw several of Lyncha’s family members attend. “Brian Lyncha was only 41 years old. He had so much of his life to live, and this was a completely senseless killing that should not have occurred. ... I think this brings peace to the victim’s family because (Rosado-Guzman is) being held accountable for Brian’s murder.”
Another charge, possession of an instrument of crime with intent, is yet to be determined because the jury could not reach a verdict there. McGoron said her office would decide on whether to continue pursuing that charge “probably” by the time of sentencing.
First Assistant Public Defender Lora Rupert declined to comment following Thursday’s court proceedings.
Based on testimony and court documents, the domino of events leading up to Thursday’s conviction started on Aug. 19, 2022, when Rosado-Guzman and a friend bumped into Lyncha — all three men knew each other — while walking on the Philipsburg-area train tracks to buy more beer. An argument about a bluetooth speaker broke out between Rosado-Guzman and Lyncha, before the friend said Rosado-Guzman threw a punch and then tackled Lyncha down the embankment.
That mutual friend, John Bratton, said he waited for what felt like a few minutes before trying to break up the fight that saw Lyncha atop Rosado-Guzman. Bratton said he saw a silver flash — which he later assumed was Rosado-Guzman’s knife — and Lyncha then staggered off, eventually falling to his stomach and dying in the yard of a nearby neighbor. About three inches of a four-inch pocket knife blade had penetrated Lyncha’s heart.
Bratton testified Monday. Rosado-Guzman took the stand Wednesday.
“He was in fear of his life and wanted to get Brian off him,” Rupert said during opening remarks.
Countered McGoron: “You don’t get to claim self-defense when you start a fight.”
The trial lasted four days, with the jury deliberating for the rare length of two days. (A majority of juries take one.) McGoron praised the jurors for being “extremely attentive,” and, on several occasions, attorneys were called back to the courtroom due to various juror questions, some of which centered on the legal definitions of “adapted,” “circumstances” and “intent.”
The verdict was announced by the jury of four men and eight women about 12:45 p.m. Thursday. It wasn’t immediately clear if Rosado-Guzman intended to appeal.
