Lebanon, Pennsylvania

From Harrisburg’s PennLive.com of April 6, 2007

Son found innocent in dad's death

Gun was fired in self-defense, jurors decide

The jurors in Lebanon County Court didn't have to decide if Javier Roldan shot and killed his father. They heard Roldan testify to that fact.

But the jury had to decide whether Roldan was guilty of murder or had acted out of self-defense. After six hours of deliberation yesterday, the jurors acquitted him.

Roldan, 26, of the 100 block of Twin Creeks Drive, Jonestown, was found not guilty of homicide and two counts of aggravated assault.

He was charged after being accused of shooting his father, Jose Antonio Roldan, during a fight in their home Aug. 12. Roldan had testified that he shot his father, Jose Antonio Roldan, because his father had him in a choke hold and he feared for his life.

The verdict touched off a celebration among members of the Roldan family, some of whom had testified.

A tearful Javier Roldan embraced his mother, Gladys. He had testified that he fought with his father over the elder man's treatment of Gladys Roldan.

Javier Roldan hugged several more of the 15 family members present before he was taken to check out of Lebanon County Prison, where he has been held since the shooting.

"It's a huge release, a huge weight from our shoulders" Javier's older brother, Heriberto, said. He said the entire family believed the shooting was justified on the grounds of self-defense.

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