2008-12-22

Mass. police chief pleads not guilty in Uzi death

Related article:
Police cheif, gun club indicted in boy's Uzi death

The Associated Press

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — A police chief in western Massachusetts has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the death of an 8-year-old boy who accidentally shot himself with an Uzi at a gun show.

Pelham Chief Edward Fleury owns COPS Firearms & Training, which promoted the October show where Christopher Bizilj (bah-SEEL') shot himself in the head.

Fleury's lawyer also entered not guilty pleas Monday to four counts of furnishing a machine gun to a person under 18. Fleury did not appear at the arraignment in Hampden Superior Court.

District Attorney William Bennett has said Fleury wrongly assured two men who brought the weapon to the club that it was legal for children to use under Massachusetts law.

The club where the show was held also entered a not guilty plea to involuntary manslaughter on Monday.

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