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...
New York Commercial Litigation Law Firm - Woods Lonergan PLLC
Founded in 1993 by Managing Partner James F. Woods, Woods Lonergan PLLC has built a strong reputation as a resourceful and industrious firm that provides clients with clear, concise, and straightforward answers to their most challenging legal issues. Partner Lawrence R. Lonergan, who joined the firm in 2008, has been a friend and colleague to Mr. Woods for over 40 years and shares the same business philosophy. Woods Lonergan PLLC’s collective experience and expertise enables the firm to expeditiously and effectively analyze the increasing challenges clients face in an evolving business and legal world, in many instances, avoiding unnecessary time and expense to our clients. Our mission is simple: provide cutting-edge expertise and sound advice in select areas of the law for corporate and business clients. We thrive on providing each client with personalized attention, forceful representation, and a collaborative team effort that embraces collective knowledge.