Post by Anja Nieser on Sept 14, 2006 12:08:39 GMT -5
Jury weighs death penalty in triple shooting at Altoona club
Closing arguments were expected Thursday before a jury begins
deliberations on whether a construction worker convicted of killing 3 men
outside a club deserves the death penalty.
If the panel does not unanimously vote for the execution of Miguel
Padilla, 27, of Gallitzin, he will be sentenced to life in prison without
parole.
Jurors heard testimony Wednesday from Padilla's family that he was a good
worker and doting father, while the victims' relatives described the pain
of losing loved ones because of his actions.
A psychologist testifying for the defense said Padilla has post-traumatic
stress disorder stemming from abuse he suffered as a child in his native
Mexico. Prosecutors, however, attributed Padilla's actions to rash and
violent machismo.
Jurors deliberated for only 2 hours on Tuesday before convicting Padilla
of 3 counts of 1st-degree murder in the shootings outside the United
Veterans Association Club in Altoona on Aug. 28, 2005.
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.
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)
Closing arguments were expected Thursday before a jury begins
deliberations on whether a construction worker convicted of killing 3 men
outside a club deserves the death penalty.
If the panel does not unanimously vote for the execution of Miguel
Padilla, 27, of Gallitzin, he will be sentenced to life in prison without
parole.
Jurors heard testimony Wednesday from Padilla's family that he was a good
worker and doting father, while the victims' relatives described the pain
of losing loved ones because of his actions.
A psychologist testifying for the defense said Padilla has post-traumatic
stress disorder stemming from abuse he suffered as a child in his native
Mexico. Prosecutors, however, attributed Padilla's actions to rash and
violent machismo.
Jurors deliberated for only 2 hours on Tuesday before convicting Padilla
of 3 counts of 1st-degree murder in the shootings outside the United
Veterans Association Club in Altoona on Aug. 28, 2005.
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.
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)