Jimmy ‘Superfly’ Snuka Prepares To Fight Murder Charges For Girlfriend Nancy Argentino’s 1983 Death

Jimmy “Super Fly” Snuka, a legendary professional wrestler, appeared in court Wednesday as his lawyers prepare to defend him against murder and manslaughter charges.

Jimmy ‘Super Fly’ Snuka To Fight Murder Charge

Snuka, charged with killing his girlfriend Nancy Argentino in 1983, appeared at a courthouse in Allentown, Pa., for an open hearing to determine whether or not an official preliminary hearing could be bypassed. Snuka’s lawyers agreed to bypass the hearing in exchange for grand jury transcripts and other evidence, reported The Morning Call.

“Those transcripts are worth their weight in gold,” said Snuka’s attorney Robert J. Kirwan II. “The benefit [of a preliminary hearing] would have been nonexistent, no cross-examination, no eyewitnesses would be testifying. The transcripts for the grand jury investigating witnesses would not have been available until the time of trial. We would much rather have them now ahead of time to go over them and prepare a good defense for Mr. Snuka.”

“The sooner this gets brought to a court, to a jury, the better. Mr. Snuka, if his health continues to deteriorate, he’d like to leave this world knowing he’s an innocent man, not with everyone thinking he’s guilty,” Kirwan added. “So we’re looking for a quick trial as well, for his sake and for his reputation.”

Kirwan went on to state that Snuka remains optimistic that he will be found not guilty of third-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter for Argentino’s untimely death. In litigation, Kirwan believes he’ll be able to show that past investigations have already shown Snuka’s innocence.

“We’ve taken the position that 30 years ago when this case was investigated by the DA’s office, this DA’s office, they determined that there was no crime committed,” Kirwan said. “Thirty years has not changed that. He remains optimistic. He is not dreading this trial. He’s looking forward to clearing his name and I expect him to be found innocent of all charges.

Snuka Charged With Murder

Snuka was charged with third-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter in the death of Argentino, 23, last month – thirty-two years after her death. Evidence had led Lehigh County authorities to believe that they had a case against the WWE legend, reported The Morning Call.

Part of the reason investigators sought to reopen the case was Snuka’s account of Argentino’s death in his 2012 autobiography, Superfly: The Jimmy Snuka Story. In the book, Snuka presented a different version of the chain of events than he’d previously given, claiming that Argentino hit her head while trying to go to the bathroom at a rest stop.

Snuka was arrested at his home in New Jersey, and was released on bail shortly thereafter. Typically, a person facing third-degree murder and manslaughter charges would not be granted bail. However, since Snuka is currently recovering from stomach cancer and will require more treatment, Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin had made an exception.