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Man guilty of slashing neighbor

A Holiday man is sentenced to 30 years in prison for slitting his neighbor's throat.

By COLLEEN JENKINS
Published November 10, 2005

NEW PORT RICHEY - The first time Wayne Francis Brasby talked to authorities, he told them his 50-year-old neighbor was suicidal and had slit his own throat on the afternoon of Dec. 1, 2004.

From the witness stand Wednesday, Brasby told jurors he had slashed his neighbor's throat after the man pulled a gun on him during a prescription drug transaction.

Jurors didn't buy either story. Neither did Circuit Judge Stanley Mills.

Jurors found Brasby, 34, guilty of attempted first-degree murder and burglary after about one hour of deliberation Wednesday evening. Then Mills sentenced the Holiday man to 30 years in prison.

"There were too many stories, Mr. Brasby," Mills said. "Too many stories, too many differences."

The conviction was Brasby's eighth for a felony and his most serious yet.

As Assistant State Attorney Scott Tremblay pointed out Wednesday, Brasby's latest run-in with the law should never have happened. At the time of the offense, Brasby was on community control and was supposed to be confined to his home, Tremblay said.

Instead, he went to neighbor Francis Coletto's home to purchase 100 Percocet pain pills, Brasby testified Wednesday. Coletto wanted more money than the price they had agreed upon and suddenly brandished a gun at him, Brasby said. Brasby said he feared for his life, so he used a knife he had tucked into the front of his pants.

"If I pulled a gun, I'd shoot someone," Brasby said.

On Monday, Coletto said he was merely telling Brasby about some home improvements he had planned when Brasby came from behind him and cut his throat. A little while later, Brasby ran back inside Coletto's home and stole some of the prescription drugs Coletto takes for a back injury.

Coletto denied selling drugs to his neighbor.

Mills said it didn't matter whether drugs had been involved or not.

"Even for Pasco County, this is a strange case," Mills said. "This case cries out for a stiff sentence."

[Last modified November 10, 2005, 01:21:17]