John Knospler Junior’s Murder Trial Starts

Trial is scheduled to start for a former Marine Sergeant from Pennsylvania, accused of killing a man at a Natrona County nightclub.

Thirty-four year old John Knospler Junior has pleaded not guilty to one charge of second degree murder, in the death of 24-year old James Baldwin.

Natrona County Sheriff’s Investigators say in early October 2013, deputies were called to Rack’s Gentleman’s Club, where they found Baldwin in the parking lot bleeding from a gunshot wound, and was later pronounced dead at the scene.

One bouncer told investigators, that he saw Baldwin go outside and lean inside a vehicle, then saw Baldwin’s body jerk twice and then fall to the ground.

The bouncer said that Knospler was the person in the car and that he drove off a short time later.

Deputies eventually found Knospler as well as a handgun inside his vehicle, and also determined through tests, that his blood alcohol content was above the legal limit at the time.

Defense attorneys say Knospler was acting in self-defense and that Baldwin punched out the driver's side window of Knospler's car, while Knospler was inside of it.

The trial is scheduled to last all week, and if Knospler is found guilty, he could get 20 years to life in prison.