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Jury acquits Pasco man in 2008 shooting

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By TODD LESKANIC | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 27, 2009

NEW PORT RICHEY - A jury needed only an hour of deliberation to acquit a Hudson man of aggravated battery Monday night.

Anthony Boglino, 64, could have faced a minimum of 25 years in prison had he been found guilty of shooting Haigh Kopoian, 37, in the stomach with a .22-caliber gun on May 13, 2008.

Defense attorney Chris Frey said his client cooperated with investigators from the beginning. Boglino admitted shooting Kopoian and pointed detectives to the gun when they arrived at the scene, Frey said.

Boglino initially told deputies he and Kopoian were friends. He said they were arguing when Kopoian charged him and that's when he fired.

The state's "Stand Your Ground" law allows the use of deadly force under certain circumstances.

Frey said Boglino had a right to use deadly force to repel "what he believed to be imminent bodily harm or death."

Boglino called 911 after the shooting and was arrested the same day.

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