The lawyer defending a North Braddock man accused of killing his mother-in-law in 2000 to keep their affair a secret argued Tuesday his client is being framed for the killing. Eric Fischer said his client, David Repasky, was framed because he has agreed to testify in a major burglary case against the man who had served as best man at his wedding. As the trial got under way yesterday, Fischer asked an Allegheny County homicide detective whether he trusts best man Donald "D.J." Wall after Wall admitted only this year that in 2000 he buried the body of Repasky's mother-in-law, Lynda McClelland, 44, at Repasky's request. Fischer asked Detective Robert Opferman whether Wall, of Turtle Creek, told him that he decided to talk only after Repasky agreed to testify against him. Wall told Opferman that Repasky, 26, admitted killing McClelland and asked for help burying her. Opferman confirmed the timing of Wall's confession, but suggested Wall is credible because he was able to guide detectives to McClelland's body. McClelland, of Forest Hills, was missing from July 27, 2000, until Wall led police to her shallow grave in Wilkins on March 14. She had been choked to death. Repasky was charged with homicide three days later. Police allege he killed his mother-in-law so his wife wouldn't learn of the affair. Wall and Repasky were among 10 people charged with burglary after state Attorney General's Office investigators announced in March they had broken up a ring blamed for more than 300 burglaries in eight Western Pennsylvania counties. Wall is expected to testify today in Repasky's nonjury trial before Common Pleas Judge Lester Nauhaus. Repasky's ex-wife, Amanda, who divorced him in November, testified yesterday that she and Repasky visited McClelland on the night of July 26 because McClelland was upset. Amanda Repasky said her mother, who suffered from paranoid schizophrenia, talked of suicide, but did not seem serious about the threat. Questioned by Assistant District Attorney Lisa Pellegrini, Amanda Repasky said she and David Repasky went home, and that she went to bed while David Repasky and a baby-sitter who spent the night drank wine. The next morning, Amanda Repasky said, she awoke at about 8 a.m. to find her husband gone. He returned about 60 to 90 minutes later, she said. The baby-sitter, Bronwyn Adams, 25, testified yesterday that Repasky left his house about 5 a.m. As the mystery over her mother's disappearance lingered, Amanda Repasky went on the Montel Williams television show to consult a psychic about her whereabouts. Opferman said it was a quick trip to the woods with Wall that led to McClelland's grave. The District Attorney's Office has granted Wall immunity from prosecution on corpse-abuse charges in exchange for his testimony.

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