Turtle Creek man accused of killing neighbor held for court

A Turtle Creek man charged with killing his neighbor was ordered to stand trial today.

Danny Washington, 30, was held for court on one count of homicide in the July death of James Payne Sr., 58, who died after he told police he had been punched in the head.

Mr. Payne told officers he heard an argument between Mr. Washington and a woman and attempted to break it up on July 25, according to a criminal complaint filed by Allegheny County police.

Mr. Washington walked over and punched Mr. Payne in the face several times, causing him to fall backward and land on an iron railing, breaking it, police said.

Mr. Payne declined medical treatment, but the next morning, his wife and son called 911 to report that they were unable to wake him. A doctor told police Mr. Payne had a blood on the surface of the brain, usually the result of a serious head injury.

His family removed him from life support on July 27. The Allegheny County medical examiner's office said Mr. Payne died of head trauma and ruled his death a homicide.

Police, who listened to calls Mr. Washington made from the county jail, quoted him as telling his girlfriend that Mr. Payne threatened to kill him and that the incident was an accident.