Mistrial for man in killing of nephew of Montana senator

Published 1:30 am Thursday, April 11, 2019

Associated Press

SPOKANE — A mistrial has been declared in Spokane for a man charged with first-degree murder in the death of a nephew of Montana Sen. Jon Tester.

The Spokesman-Review reported that a judge declared a mistrial Thursday in the case of 24-year-old John Radavich.

Reasons for the mistrial were not immediately announced. The trial began Wednesday.

Radavich is charged with killing Robert Tester, 35, on Sept. 5, 2016.

Tester was stabbed and beaten to death at his home near Spangle, a small town just south of Spokane.

The case remained unsolved for months until Dec. 26, 2016, when Radavich allegedly called a friend in Texas and admitted to killing Tester.

The defense contends that Radavich went to the home because Robert Tester had abused a 17-year-old girl whom Radavich had dated.