05-05-2025
Jurors deliberate in North Scranton homicide, consider facts, mental state
SCRANTON — Jurors began deliberations Monday afternoon in the homicide trial of Shelton Miles, accused of shooting a man during a robbery of the Sunoco on North Main Avenue in March of 2024. The victim later died.
During a weeklong trial, prosecution witnesses focused on the facts of the case which were mainly undisputed by both sides. Prosecutors showed jurors a video of Miles shooting Jose Miguel Tatis-Camilo as he steps into the convenience store, stepping over his body, shooting cashier Gopi Soni in the thigh, filling his pockets with cash and then fleeing the scene.
Conversely, in support of their 'not guilty by reason of insanity' plea, the defense centered its argument on expert witnesses who said Miles was incapable of clear judgment and didn't understand what he was doing.
Miles, 65, of 401 W. Market St., is charged with first-, second-, and third-degree murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault and theft. He sat attentively through Monday's proceedings.
During his closing argument, defense attorney Curt Parkins said his case was predicated on the science of the case, rather than the facts.
A combination of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, bouts of diabetes and substance abuse resulted in Miles suffering from dementia, he said.
He showed the jury a video of Miles being transported to the police station after he was arrested two hours after he shot Tatis-Camilo.
That video shows him asking out loud, 'What did I do?' and 'Why am I here.'
He emphasized that defense expert Jeffrey Fremont, a psychologist, did extensive cognitive testing of Miles and concluded that he was cognitively impaired and a reduced intellectual capacity.
But, Deputy District Attorney Sara Varela told jurors that they should focus on the facts of the case.
'The facts of the case, the evidence, is the only reason that we're here,' she said. 'The facts are absolutely relevant.'
She showed the jury another piece of video of Miles being transported to the police station after his arrest. In that part of the video, he says to himself, 'It's over. It's done. It's death. It's over.'
She told jurors Miles had spent hours gambling at a convenience store, before deciding he wanted to go to the casino and do some real gambling.
The robbery, she said, was his effort to get money to fund that trip to the casino.
She described Miles' actions on the night of the murder as 'planned, prepared and premeditated.'
The jury composed of six men and six women began deliberating just after 1 p.m.
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