State Roundup

Ann Arbor Man competent for trial in billiard player's death ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) -- An Ann Arbor-area man accused of killing a competitive billiards player and dumping her body in an Indiana pond has been found competent to stand trial. AnnArbor.com reports a judge made the ruling Tuesday in the case of Greg Noack, who is charged with murder in the slaying of Dawn Fital. The case had been on hold while experts considered Noack's mental competency. Noack is due back in court on the case Oct. 28. Fital's body was found in a suitcase in a Hobart, Ind., pond on June 16. Noack was her boyfriend, and they both worked at a Walmart store. The 45-year-old Fital lived in Washtenaw County's Pittsfield Township. She played in many billiards tournaments and won $600 in Las Vegas just days before she died. Lansing City police officer fatally shoots gunman LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Authorities say a Lansing police officer at the scene of a domestic disturbance call has fatally shot a 50-year-old man who pointed a gun at the officer. Police tell the Lansing State Journal that the officer shot the man Tuesday afternoon because he felt his life was in danger. Police say they were told the man threatened his wife an others with a gun during a dispute, and the officer was the first to respond to the scene. The officer was outside the home and waiting for backup when police say the man came outside with a gun. Names of those involved weren't immediately released. The officer has been placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation by Michigan State Police. Lansing Domestic partner benefits debated again in Mich. LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Republicans in the Michigan Legislature are preparing another attempt to block the offering of taxpayer-paid health insurance to domestic partners living with public employees. Bills that could come up for votes as early as this week in the House would prohibit public employers from offering the benefits. The legislation also would make domestic partner benefits a prohibited subject in collective bargaining with public employee unions. The measures likely would be challenged by some public employees or employers who say their rights to make decisions over benefits are protected in the state constitution. The Michigan Civil Service Commission has voted to allow domestic partner benefits for some state employees starting in October. The Republican-led Legislature tried to overturn the decision but couldn't get the two-thirds majority vote needed in the House. Detroit Bravata defense lawyer asks to get off fraud case DETROIT (AP) -- A Detroit-area money manager accused of fraud may be parting ways with his court-appointed lawyer. Attorney Austin Hirschhorn has told a federal judge there's a breakdown in his relationship with John Bravata. The judge will hold a hearing Friday on Hirschhorn's request to leave the case. Bravata is charged with conspiracy to commit fraud. Authorities say he collected $53 million from investors. He insists he legitimately invested the money in real estate and denies any fraud. Bravata was arrested in May after returning to the U.S. from Italy. Authorities say he was exploring whether he could avoid extradition if indicted while in Italy. Bravata remains in custody. Detroit Guilty plea in US-Europe sex trafficking case DETROIT (AP) -- A man once listed as a top fugitive by the U.S. government has pleaded guilty to conspiring to lure Eastern European women to the U.S. and force them to become strippers. Detroit U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade said Tuesday that 56-year-old Veniamin Gonikman pleaded guilty in an agreement that gives him a maximum sentence of four years, three months in prison. McQuade says Gonikman was the ninth and final defendant in the 2006 conspiracy case to be convicted. Gonikman is a naturalized U.S. citizen from the Ukraine, which arrested him in January. McQuade says that in 2001, Gonikman helped smuggle two young Ukrainian women through Mexico into the U.S., where they were forced to serve as exotic dancers in Detroit. The Associated Press left messages for his lawyer Tuesday night. Published: Thu, Sep 15, 2011