Elkins, West Virginia

From Clarksburg’s WBOY.com of February 19, 2007

Randolph County Man Charged With Murder Has Bond Hearing

Police say Steven Dan Snider fatally shot Leslie Woodford Friday night.

A Randolph County judge has set bond for a man accused of killing another man during a domestic dispute.

Steven Snider, 49, is in the Tygart Valley Regional Jail his bond has been set at 250 thousand dollars, cash only. Sheriff's deputies say Snider shot Leslie Woodford after a domestic dispute Friday night.

According to sheriff's deputies, Woodford was finalizing a messy divorce with his ex-wife.

Shortly after 9:30 p.m. Friday, deputies Mark T. Brady and Richard T. Swisher responded to a 911 call at a home on Sully Road near Alpina.

Woodford went to his ex-wife's father's home, kicked in the front door and pointed a handgun at the 76-year-old man.

Woodford was threatening to kill the family, authorities said.

The father attempted to defend himself with a 12-gauge shotgun.

Woodford confronted his ex-wife, but left the scene before authorities arrived.

Brady said Woodford then went to the South Henry Avenue home of Steven Dan Snider, who had been dating Woodford's ex-wife.

Deputies said Woodford busted down his door and shot at Snider.

Snider fired back and fatally wounded Woodford. Woodford was airlifted to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, where he was pronounced dead.

Snider is now charged with second degree murder.

Both incidents are under investigation by the Elkins Police Department, the Randolph County Sheriff's Department and the West Virginia State Police.

From Clarksburg’s WBOY.com of February 22, 2007

Case Dismissed Against Randolph County Man Charged in Fatal Shooting

Evidence indicated the shooting was self defense.

A Randolph County magistrate has closed the case against Steven Snider in the shooting death of Leslie Woodford.

Authorities arrested Snider after police said Woodford burst into his home, tried to shoot him and Snider fired back.

At that hearing, Randolph County Prosecutor Frank Bush moved to dismiss the case against Snider, saying the evidence indicates the shooting was done in self defense.

That case has raised questions about what is self defense.

State law doesn't specifically address the issue so how do you know when you can defend yourself with deadly force?

Bush said its a difficult claim since each and every case is different.

The magistrate granted the state's request to dismiss the case without prejudice. Snider's attorneys says the prosecutor made the right choice based on the evidence.

An amendment to the West Virginia state code covering home protections is making its way through the state Legislature.

The amendment outlines reasons to allow the use of deadly force.

1. The person against whom the defensive force was used was in the process of unlawfully and forcefully entering, or had unlawfully and forcibly entered, a dwelling, residence or occupied vehicle, or if that person had removed or was attempting to remove another against that person's will from the dwelling, residence or occupied vehicle.

2. The person who uses defensive force knew or had reason to believe that an unlawful and forcible entry or unlawful and forcible act was occurring or had occurred.

From a police perspective, investigating a shooting, self defense or not, still must be treated as a crime.

Right now that bill is making its way through the House Judiciary Committee. Snider has been released from jail and is back home.