Defense says new video supports claims of self-defense in Rialto stabbing

A defense attorney says a new video shown Thursday to a Westmoreland County jury supports the contention that his client was justified when he repeatedly stabbed another person during an outdoor melee from the former Rialto bar and bistro in downtown Greensburg.

The video depicts the moments after Joseph Williams was stabbed at least 10 times during an altercation in the early morning hours of November 24, 2022.

Williams is pictured on top of the man accused of his attempted murder while others try to pull him away.

Anthony J. Sharp, 23, of Jeannette, testified that he acted in self-defense and savagely brandished a pocket knife at his attacker during the alleged assault. Sharp, charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault and reckless endangerment, was the last witness to testify at his trial.

Jury deliberations in the case are expected to begin Friday morning after attorneys' closing arguments.

Prosecutors say Sharp violently attacked Williams after the bar had been evacuated moments earlier in response to a prolonged physical altercation between the two men in the nightclub portion of the business.

Williams claims Sharp was the aggressor.

Sharp told jurors that Williams jumped him as he left the building.

“I was looking at my phone to call my mother to come pick me up. And before I could finish, he came after me,” Sharp testified. “He just tackled me and I fell to the ground and hit the back of my head on the concrete.”

He said he managed to get back to his feet, but was immediately slammed against a wall by Williams. Sharp said he was again taken to the ground where he retrieved the knife he was previously holding, as well as his wallet, keys and phone, before the attack.

“I’m on the ground and he (Williams) is choking me. There's nothing I can do to get away from him. He was just manhandling me,” Sharp testified. “I knew the second time I hit the concrete I was in trouble. I was struggling. There's nothing I can do. I knew I had to do something to help myself and I remember fighting to keep him away from me.

Earlier in the trial, prosecutors played a series of videos from inside and outside the Rialto. Investigators said none of the videos from the Rialto or security cameras near the bar showed clear footage of the fight between Sharp and Williams.

Defense lawyer Stephen Colafella said the new video, shot from a covered courtyard connecting two separate sections of the Rialto, was obtained by the defense.

There is no testimony as to the origin of the video.

Colafella said the video corroborated testimony from Sharp and other defense witnesses who told jurors that Williams was the aggressor while on top of Sharp during the stabbing.

Assistant District Attorney Katie Ranker said neither prosecutors nor police viewed the defense video before it was played in court Thursday.

Sharp, during questioning by Ranker, admitted that the new video did not depict the part of the fight in which Williams was stabbed.

A series of prosecution witnesses testified that Sharp initiated the latter part of the fight just before the stabbing.

Michael Gurniek, the final prosecution witness, testified Thursday morning that Sharp and Williams were about 10 feet apart on the street when Sharp approached with a knife in his hand.

“It was a fight,” Gurniek told jurors. “They were fighting each other. Joey (Williams) was stabbed before they got to the ground.