Pa. man found guilty of killing 3 Pittsburgh cops
Criminal Law
A Pennsylvania man was found guilty Saturday in the 2009 killings of three Pittsburgh police officers who responded to his mother's 911 call about an escalating argument.
The jury deliberated for just over three hours before returning the verdict against 24-year-old Richard Poplawski. He was found guilty of all 28 counts he faced. He was found guilty of first-degree murder in all three killings, the three most serious charges he faced.
About 50 Pittsburgh police officers lined the hallway outside Allegheny County Judge Jeffrey Manning's courtroom and burst into applause when Deputy District Attorney Mark Tranquilli emerged.
Poplawski did not comment as he was taken from the courtroom, and the judge ordered his mother, Margaret, removed as well after she stood up. Manning said he was concerned she was about to create an outburst and had sheriff's deputies remove her as a precaution.
As a result, Margaret Poplawski was not immediately available for comment after the verdict.
The trial now enters a penalty phase in which the jury will hear evidence about his mental state, background and other factors before determining if Poplawski gets the death penalty or life in prison without parole.
Related listings
-
Navy subcontractor pleads guilty in bribe case
Criminal Law 06/20/2011A Navy subcontractor pleaded guilty Friday in Rhode Island for his part in what federal prosecutors say was a kickback scheme that cost the Navy millions of dollars.Russell Spencer's plea was part of an agreement with prosecutors in which he promised...
-
NY top court rejects online defamation suit
Criminal Law 06/14/2011New York's top court has rejected a real estate broker's defamation claim against a rival business over anonymous comments posted on its website saying the broker mistreated agents, failed to pay bills and was racist and anti-Semitic. The Court of Ap...
-
Woman faces prison in Calif.-to-Ohio pot scheme
Criminal Law 06/10/2011A California woman who initially claimed ignorance about the contents of multiple suitcases she was bringing to Ohio faces up to 10 years in prison Friday when she is sentenced in a $3 million marijuana shipping scheme.After her arrest in in June 201...
Is Now the Time to Really Call a Special Education Lawyer?
IDEA, FAPE, CHILD FIND and IEPs: The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) guarantees all children with disabilities to a free appropriate public education (FAPE). FAPE starts with a school’s responsibility to identify that a child has a disability (Child Find) and create an Individualized Education Program (IEP) to suit the needs of the child.
Forte Law Group is one of only a very few law firms within the state of Connecticut that is dedicated to exclusively representing families and children with special needs.
Parents need to be persistent, dedicated and above all else aware of the many services and accommodations that their child is entitled to under the law. As early as this point within your child’s special education, many parents will often find themselves in the situation asking, “is now the time to really call a special education lawyer?” Here are a few things to consider when asking yourself that question.