"Scuz" Nickname Called Prejudicial

(West Chester, Pennsylvania) In a court of law, it would seem appropriate that a defendant's known aliases be accepted as valid information for a jury to hear. Nevertheless,

From Local6.com:

A defense attorney has asked a judge to bar any references to his client's nickname -- "Scuz" -- in his upcoming murder trial, saying the moniker could negatively influence jurors.

Demetrius "Scuz" Fiorentino, 31, of Coatesville, is charged with the April 2004 robbery and shooting death of Joel "Wellz" Taylor, 19, of Queens, N.Y., during a botched drug deal in a Coatesville crack house in Coatesville.

Defense attorney Laurence Harmelin cited the dictionary definition of scuzzball as "an unpleasant, dirty or dangerous person; creep" and scuzzy as "dirty, shabby or foul in condition or nature."

Harmelin told Common Pleas Judge Phyllis Streitel on Friday that connotations of Fiorentino's nickname would prejudice jurors against the defendant.

Presently, it's unknown how Judge Streitel will rule. However, if "Scuz" is deemed unacceptable, "Turd Sandwich" and "Slick Willie" are definitely out of the question.