Charges are refiled against lawyer in shooting of homeless man
Prosecutors have refiled charges against an Albuquerque criminal defense lawyer accused of shooting a homeless man in the leg at his law office.
A preliminary hearing on the refiled charges against David “Chip” Venie has not yet been held, KRQE reports. He is accused of shooting Stephen Biddinger in the leg in an August 2012 incident recorded by Venie’s wife on cellphone.
Venie maintains Biddinger was yelling and waving his hands when he followed Venie into his law office and refused to leave.
Venie was previously indicted on charges of aggravated battery and assault in the incident. A New Mexico judge dismissed the charges against Venie without prejudice in June because he wasn’t allowed to introduce evidence to the grand jury that supported his version of the events, the Albuquerque Journal reported at the time. The target of a grand jury probe may present evidence showing a lack of culpability as a result of a 2009 state court decision.
Venie said he is not guilty in an interview with KRQE. “I’m completely innocent of these charges. I never asked for what happened. I was walking back from work and was beset upon,” Venie said.
