Jason Kasper's Halloween night began with drinks with his on-again-off-again girlfriend and her husband, and ended with the husband dead under Mr. Kasper's car.

Mr. Kasper, 35, of Bethel Park, is accused of running over John Pavlick in the early morning hours of Nov. 1. He was ordered to stand trial yesterday on charges of homicide and homicide by vehicle.

Tracy Pavlick, the wife of the victim, testified during Mr. Kasper's preliminary hearing before District Judge Robert Wyda that she had a romantic relationship with Mr. Kasper. She said she and Mr. Pavlick were "seeking a possible divorce" but were "together" at the time of the incident.

They had been married in 2000 and Mrs. Pavlick filed for divorce in July 2008.

Mr. Pavlick, 49, of Bethel Park, died of asphyxiation after Mr. Kasper allegedly drove his Buick Regal over him on the lawn of a house on Grey Fox Circle. Mr. Pavlick was pinned under his car and died at the scene.

Mr. Kasper's attorney, Patrick Thomassey, called the incident "an unfortunate accident fueled by alcohol." He said Mrs. Pavlick should be blamed for "all of it."

Mrs. Pavlick testified she and her husband went out to celebrate Halloween but that she and Mr. Kasper had texted back and forth during the evening. She invited Mr. Kasper to join her and Mr. Pavlick for drinks at bars, which he did. When the couple switched bars without Mr. Kasper, she replied to a text and told him where they went.

When Mr. Thomassey asked why she texted Mr. Kasper while she was out with her husband, she replied "Because at that time, Jason and I were still speaking."

She described the initial meeting as "cordial" but said that Mr. Kasper later showed up at her home on Grey Fox Circle demanding to "straighten things out."

Mr. Kasper told police Mrs. Pavlick had invited him to her home. Mrs. Pavlick testified she did not but wasn't surprised when the doorbell rang after midnight and Mr. Kasper was there. She said Mr. Pavlick had mentioned earlier in the evening "I wouldn't be surprised if the doorbell rang tonight."

She said her husband came to the door and told Mr. Kasper "Do you want to get something straight? Let's get something straight."

She said Mr. Pavlick and Mr. Kasper then began wrestling on the lawn of her home but broke up after she grabbed her husband's arm. Mr. Kasper then went to his car, which was parked on the street. She testified her husband kicked the driver's side door of the car and that Mr. Kasper reversed onto her lawn.

She said Mr. Pavlick jumped onto the hood of Mr. Kasper's car and she ran inside to call police.

Mrs. Pavlick testified that while she was calling 911, Mr. Kasper came into her house and told her Mr. Pavlick was pinned underneath his car. She said neighbors and Mr. Kasper tried to jack up the car to free her husband but the jack didn't work on the soft lawn.

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