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Sandra Yi and Tom Callan reportingThe man accused of shooting a hockey coach last November will stand trial for murder. A judge bound Eugene Wright over for trial after hearing testimony from a key eyewitness.
We still don't know why Ken Dolezsar was shot, the motive is unclear. But his family is anxious to see this case come to an end. "We're confident that justice will prevail," said Barry Steed, Dolezsar's stepson.
Steed and other relatives don't know why Dolezsar was shot multiple times. "We're just shocked, and have been for several months now," he said.
But Dolezsar's sister-in-law thinks she might have an idea why. "We think it's probably over money," she said.
Police have said Dolezsar and the accused shooter, Eugene Wright, were business associates and were working on a project together.
In court this morning, Lee Carlson identified Wright as the gunman. Carlson was sitting in his car outside the Village Inn restaurant in Sandy when he saw Dolezsar walking backward with his hands raised. He said Dolezsar had a look of fear in his eyes.
Carlson testified that Wright, who appeared to be wearing a wig, pulled out a handgun and shot the victim before leaving in the victim's car.
"The ballistics says that the gun case that was found at the home of the defendant had a test casing that matched the casings found at the scene," said Deputy District Attorney Josh Player.
Police arrested Wright three months after the crime was committed. But Player was coy about what led to Wright's arrest. "The way he was narrowed in was by some telephone work that was done by one of our officers," he said.
"It just looks like they have a lot of evidence, and we'll be happy to have closure to this," Guest said.
The victim's relatives declined to say anything about Wright. They only had fond memories of Dolezsar. "Ken was probably the most genuine, wonderful man I met in my life," Steed said.
"You would find no one more giving. He would give the shirt off his back if you asked for it," said Jamiee Steed, Dolezsar's stepdaughter.
Eugene Wright pleaded not guilty to murder and aggravated robbery. A trial date has not been set.
E-mail: syi@ksl.com
E-mail: tcallan@ksl.com
