During Hugo Selenski’s first murder trial, the prison nickname of prosecution witness Patrick Russin was revealed. Fellow inmates called him “Pat the rat,” he acknowledged.
Back in March 2006, Russin testified he aided Selenski as he fatally shot two drug dealers during a crack deal at Selenski’s Kingston Township home. Selenski was acquitted of murder charges in that case, while Russin pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 10 to 20 years in prison.
Russin, 44, is now poised to testify against his former friend again at Selenski’s current murder trial for the death of two other people, Michael Kerkowski, a pharmacist, and his girlfriend, Tammy Fassett, a waitress form Meshoppen. He’s expected to be called to the stand this week.
While Russin testified he aided and abetted Selenski in the shotgun slayings of the two alleged drug dealers, it’s not clear exactly what he’ll say when he’s called to the stand in the case involving the murders of Kerkowski and Fassett.
Russin’s name has been mentioned several times during the current trial, which enters Day 9 today. While Kerkowski was missing, Russin appeared at the home of Kerkowski’s parents, saying he was there to pick up a “package” for Selenski, according to the testimony of several witnesses. Selenski had convinced the family that Kerkowski was in hiding, looking to mount a new defense against criminal charges for writing illegal prescriptions, witnesses have said. They had given Selenski tens of thousands of dollars to assist in the endeavor.
Prosecutors said Selenski, 41, and Paul Weakley, 45, tortured and murdered Kerkowski and Fassett in an attempt to get money Kerkowski earned by illegally selling painkillers. They then tried to make it look like the couple fled, burying the bodies in Selenski’s yard, prosecutors said.