COUNTRY CLUB — The man accused of punching his neighbor to death over a parking dispute pled not guilty to manslaughter charges on Wednesday in Bronx State Supreme Court.
Gjok Deda, 40, repeatedly struck his 68-year-old downstairs neighbor, Ronald Antonucci, because he thought the older man, who was backing out of a parking space at 1100 Stadium Ave. where both men lived, came too close to Deda and his daughters on the morning of March 19, according to the Bronx District Attorney's office.
The 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds father of three towered over Antonucci, who is 5-foot-8 and 156 pounds, the Bronx DA's office said.
Antonucci died soon after the fight from multiple blunt force trauma to the head, according to the medical examiner.
Deda is being held without bail and is due back in court on July 13. He faces up to 25 years behind bars and deportation to Albania, his home country, if convicted.
"We expect as this case proceeds and as the evidence is turned over, that the facts are not going to support the charges here," said Dennis Ring, Deda's lawyer.
