Hatebreed ex Papantoniou guilty of murder

Former Hatebreed drummer Nicholas Papantoniou has been found guilty of felony murder.

The New Haven Register reports the sticksman was also convicted of first-degree burglary and criminal possession of a firearm after a deadly assault on 56-year-old Larry Dildy in October, 2014.

He faces up to 90 years in jail when he’s sentenced on May 26.

Papantoniou’s testimony stated that he was an unwitting participant in co-accused William Coutermash’s plan to drive to Dildy’s house and steal money or pills from him.

According to Papantoniou, after entering Dildy’s house he was handed a gun and an argument broke out between Dildy and Coutermash over a $400 debt and that Coutermash stabbed Dildy repeatedly. Papantoniou said the gun went off twice accidentally as he and Dildy struggled over the weapon.

However, the 12 jurors found Papantoniou guilty of Dildy’s death. Coutermash, who entered into a plea deal in exchange for his cooperation, will be sentenced to “no more than 18 years in prison” at a later date.

Papantoniou played with Hatebreed between 1996-97 prior to their debut album Satisfaction Is The Death Of Desire under the name Nickel P.

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