Post by Anja Nieser on Sept 13, 2006 16:31:38 GMT -5
Jury to weigh death penalty in triple shooting outside club
Jurors who deliberated for only two hours before convicting a construction
worker of killing 3 men outside a club must now decide whether he deserves
the death penalty.
Miguel Padilla, 27, of Gallitzin, was convicted Tuesday of 3 counts of
1st-degree murder in the shootings outside the United Veterans Association
Club in Altoona on Aug. 28, 2005.
The jury was expected to begin hearing evidence Wednesday morning on
whether Padilla deserves the death penalty. If the panel does not
unanimously vote to sentence Padilla to death, he will be sentenced to
life in prison without parole.
Authorities said that after a friend was denied admission to the club,
Padilla went to his vehicle, got a gun, and opened fire when he returned,
killing doorman Fredrick Rickabaugh Sr., 59; club owner Alfred Mignogna,
61; and patron Stephen M. Heiss, 28.
A defense psychologist testified Monday that Padilla was abused by his
uncle in his native Mexico and also had trouble controlling his temper and
actions due to a history of alcohol and drug abuse. A prosecution
psychologist, however, testified that Padilla shot the men because he
thought he was being pushed around.
Padilla's attorney, public defender Donald E. Speice, never disputed that
his client shot the victims but argued that Padilla did not form a legal
intent to kill.
The jury in the case was chosen in Cumberland County and bused to Blair
County, where a judge had ruled that extensive publicity had made it
impossible to find an impartial jury.
(source: Associated Press)
Jurors who deliberated for only two hours before convicting a construction
worker of killing 3 men outside a club must now decide whether he deserves
the death penalty.
Miguel Padilla, 27, of Gallitzin, was convicted Tuesday of 3 counts of
1st-degree murder in the shootings outside the United Veterans Association
Club in Altoona on Aug. 28, 2005.
The jury was expected to begin hearing evidence Wednesday morning on
whether Padilla deserves the death penalty. If the panel does not
unanimously vote to sentence Padilla to death, he will be sentenced to
life in prison without parole.
Authorities said that after a friend was denied admission to the club,
Padilla went to his vehicle, got a gun, and opened fire when he returned,
killing doorman Fredrick Rickabaugh Sr., 59; club owner Alfred Mignogna,
61; and patron Stephen M. Heiss, 28.
A defense psychologist testified Monday that Padilla was abused by his
uncle in his native Mexico and also had trouble controlling his temper and
actions due to a history of alcohol and drug abuse. A prosecution
psychologist, however, testified that Padilla shot the men because he
thought he was being pushed around.
Padilla's attorney, public defender Donald E. Speice, never disputed that
his client shot the victims but argued that Padilla did not form a legal
intent to kill.
The jury in the case was chosen in Cumberland County and bused to Blair
County, where a judge had ruled that extensive publicity had made it
impossible to find an impartial jury.
(source: Associated Press)