National News Briefs; Wrongful-Death Suit Against du Pont Is Settled
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A wrongful-death lawsuit filed by the widow of an Olympic wrestler against the du Pont heir convicted of killing him has been settled out of court, a lawyer in the case said today. In 1997, John E. du Pont was found guilty but mentally ill in connection with the shooting death of David Schultz in January 1996. A week later, Mr. Schultz’s wife, Nancy, sued Mr. du Pont. The civil trial had been scheduled to begin next Monday. Mr. du Pont’s lawyer would not disclose the amount of the settlement. Mrs. Schultz had sought ”an amount sufficient to punish defendant,” according to court documents. During the criminal trial, the defense lawyer did not deny that Mr. du Pont had killed Mr. Schultz, 36, but said Mr. du Pont suffered from delusions that rendered him unable to recognize that what he did was wrong. Mr. du Pont, 61, is serving a 13- to 30-year sentence. Mr. Schultz had been training at the world-class wrestling training area on the compound where Mr. du Pont lived. While Mr. Schultz was there, Mr. du Pont, a diagnosed schizophrenic, fired three bullets into Mr. Schultz as Mrs. Schultz looked on. The police arrested Mr. du Pont after a two-day standoff. More : query.nytimes.com |