Cold case murder suspect pleads not guilty to Tacoma murder

TACOMA, Wash. — A man accused of fatally beating a man with a baseball bat 25 years ago in Tacoma has been arraigned.

The News Tribune reports Danny Manoi, who is serving a 46-year sentence for a different homicide, which happened in 1995, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to first-degree murder in the 1992 death of Bertil Luther.

Manoi's bail is set at $1 million.

Prosecutors charged Manoi with Luther's death last month after reviewing evidence from Tacoma police cold case investigators.

Charging papers say Luther's body was found July 9, 1992, at his home. Investigators determined he died from blunt force trauma to his head.

Officers found a bloody baseball bat in the backyard.

Charging papers say Manoi allegedly told one witness he beat Luther unconscious, but didn't realize he had killed him.

___

Information from: The News Tribune, http://www.thenewstribune.com

Associated Press