Beating death brings second-degree murder charge

By CHRIS TISCH

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 17, 2001

INDIAN ROCKS BEACH -- Edward Lipowski took an initial punch to the face, then was slammed to the pavement, where his head hit hard.

Then, according to investigators, his assailant was on top of him, punching, hitting, kicking.

When it was over, there wasn't much blood. But something was wrong with Lipowski's head.

Almost two hours later, he arrived at Sun Coast Hospital. The nursing staff decided his situation was dire. They summoned a helicopter to take him to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg.

Two days later, Laura Lipowski looked over her brother, who was motionless and unconscious in a hospital bed. Two blood clots were in his brain. Machines kept him alive.

Family members decided to let him go.

Lipowski, 40, was pronounced dead at 7:21 a.m. Easter Sunday. About 16 hours later, detectives arrested the man accused of beating him to death.

Jason N. Weiss, 28, faces a charge of second-degree murder. He was being held at the Pinellas County Jail on Monday without bail. Investigators said there were indications Weiss was under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time.

Pinellas sheriff's officials said Lipowski was at Whitey's Beach Bar, 2405 Gulf Blvd., Thursday night. He was with Janna Kens, 28, whom he had met earlier that day. They were dancing and having a good time.

But Kens was being harassed by Weiss, who she said was swiping her beer from her table. A patron escorted Weiss outside and a manager told him to leave. But he came back.

When Kens and Lipowski left about 1 a.m., Weiss followed them into the parking lot, where he began cursing and yelling at Kens. Lipowski tried to settle him down, but Weiss punched him, sheriff's officials said. Then Weiss took Lipowski to the ground and beat him, sheriff's officials said.

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