BEAVER (KDKA) — A man accused of killing a woman in Beaver County more than 30 years ago has been ordered to stand trial.

Gregory Scott Hopkins, 65, is charged with criminal homicide in the death of 23-year-old Catherine Walsh, of Monaca. She was killed in 1979.

Among those who testified was the victim’s now 90-year-old father.

Seminal fluid from defendant was found on Walsh’s nightgown and on the rope that bound her.

“The purpose of today’s hearing is to show there’s enough evidence for it to get to that point and I think we presented that,” Frank Martocci, the prosecutor, said. “We certainly put enough out there that a jury should decide what happened.”

The defense argued it was a “sexual misadventure” and should not be a first degree murder case.

“Mr. Hopkins, since this incident, has operated a business in Beaver County, he’s remained in the area – very reputable business – contracting, excavating and the like and a councilman in Bridgewater,” James Ross, the defense attorney, said. “I don’t think that’s the type of person who would normally engage in this kind of act.”

The defense’s argument that Hopkins be released was rejected.

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