An 87-year-old man faces a charge of manslaughter for allegedly beating his nursing home roommate repeatedly with a heavy magnet.
Chester Rusek was arraigned Wednesday morning in State Supreme Court on a charge of Manslaughter in the First Degree. He pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutors allege Rusek severely beat his roommate, 86-year-old Salvatore Trusello, at the Kenwall DePaul Assisted Living Center in the Town of Tonawanda November 26, 2012. Trusello was in the intensive care unit at ECMC for about a month before succumbing to his injuries on December 27.
If convicted, Rusek could be sentenced to up to 25 years in prison.
