Post by Anja Nieser on Sept 15, 2006 10:08:52 GMT -5
Jury gives death penalty in triple shooting at Altoona club
Associated Press
HOLLIDAYSBURG, Pa. - A construction worker who killed three men outside a social club after his friend was denied admittance was sentenced to three death sentences by a jury that deliberated just four hours on Thursday.
The same jury deliberated just two hours on Tuesday before finding Miguel Padilla, 27, of Gallitzin, guilty of three counts of first-degree murder in the shootings outside the United Veterans Association Club in Altoona on Aug. 28, 2005.
Blair County District Attorney Richard Consiglio said he thought the case for Padilla's guilt and his death sentence was overwhelming - even without some evidence that Judge Hiram Carpenter barred from the trial. Padilla's criminal history, including stabbing his former father-in-law, and assaults against his girlfriend, were not permitted in evidence.
"This is not some guy who one night went crazy," Consiglio told The Mirror of Altoona. "This guy may not be the worst of the worst but he is down there somewhere. This guy is a bad person."
In sentencing Padilla to death, the jury found that the aggravating circumstances surrounding the crime outweighed any mitigating factors in Padilla's behalf.
In Padilla's case, prosecutors argued that the aggravating factors - those that made each killing heinous enough to deserve death - were that multiple killings occurred, that Padilla put others in grave risk of death during the killings, and that he committed at least one other crime during the killings.
Because the triple-slaying took place in front of a busy club with other witnesses nearby, the jury found those requirements were met. Firing a weapon in such circumstances would constitute reckless endangerment, a separate crime.
Padilla's death penalty attorney, Ed Blanarik, said he thought he raised enough mitigating factors to spare Padilla's life, including testimony that Padilla was a good father.
Blanarik said he was "disappointed and saddened the tragedy last year is being compounded by the death of my client."
Jurors were told Wednesday by Padilla's family that he was a hard working and loving father, who did his best to overcome child sexual abuse in his native Mexico. A defense psychologist testified that Padilla has post-traumatic stress disorder stemming from the sex abuse, and that his actions the night of the shooting were influenced by his abuse of alcohol and drugs, including marijuana, cocaine and crystal methamphetamine.
But Blair County prosecutors, and their psychologist, said Padilla simply couldn't control his violent temper - while other witnesses said he did not appear to be abusing drugs or alcohol in the days leading up to the killings.
Authorities said that after a friend began arguing with club employees after he was denied admission that Padilla went to his vehicle, got a gun, and opened fire when he returned. Doorman Fredrick Rickabaugh Sr., 59; club owner Alfred Mignogna, 61; and patron Stephen M. Heiss, 28, who was waiting for his girlfriend to arrive, were killed.
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.
Death penalty cases are automatically appealed.
There are 223 people now on death row in Pennsylvania prisons. Padilla will join them when he is transferred from the Blair County Jail. He will be the 15th Pennsylvania death row inmate awaiting execution under three death sentences, according to the state Department of Corrections.
© 2006 AP Wire and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.
www.centredaily.com
Associated Press
HOLLIDAYSBURG, Pa. - A construction worker who killed three men outside a social club after his friend was denied admittance was sentenced to three death sentences by a jury that deliberated just four hours on Thursday.
The same jury deliberated just two hours on Tuesday before finding Miguel Padilla, 27, of Gallitzin, guilty of three counts of first-degree murder in the shootings outside the United Veterans Association Club in Altoona on Aug. 28, 2005.
Blair County District Attorney Richard Consiglio said he thought the case for Padilla's guilt and his death sentence was overwhelming - even without some evidence that Judge Hiram Carpenter barred from the trial. Padilla's criminal history, including stabbing his former father-in-law, and assaults against his girlfriend, were not permitted in evidence.
"This is not some guy who one night went crazy," Consiglio told The Mirror of Altoona. "This guy may not be the worst of the worst but he is down there somewhere. This guy is a bad person."
In sentencing Padilla to death, the jury found that the aggravating circumstances surrounding the crime outweighed any mitigating factors in Padilla's behalf.
In Padilla's case, prosecutors argued that the aggravating factors - those that made each killing heinous enough to deserve death - were that multiple killings occurred, that Padilla put others in grave risk of death during the killings, and that he committed at least one other crime during the killings.
Because the triple-slaying took place in front of a busy club with other witnesses nearby, the jury found those requirements were met. Firing a weapon in such circumstances would constitute reckless endangerment, a separate crime.
Padilla's death penalty attorney, Ed Blanarik, said he thought he raised enough mitigating factors to spare Padilla's life, including testimony that Padilla was a good father.
Blanarik said he was "disappointed and saddened the tragedy last year is being compounded by the death of my client."
Jurors were told Wednesday by Padilla's family that he was a hard working and loving father, who did his best to overcome child sexual abuse in his native Mexico. A defense psychologist testified that Padilla has post-traumatic stress disorder stemming from the sex abuse, and that his actions the night of the shooting were influenced by his abuse of alcohol and drugs, including marijuana, cocaine and crystal methamphetamine.
But Blair County prosecutors, and their psychologist, said Padilla simply couldn't control his violent temper - while other witnesses said he did not appear to be abusing drugs or alcohol in the days leading up to the killings.
Authorities said that after a friend began arguing with club employees after he was denied admission that Padilla went to his vehicle, got a gun, and opened fire when he returned. Doorman Fredrick Rickabaugh Sr., 59; club owner Alfred Mignogna, 61; and patron Stephen M. Heiss, 28, who was waiting for his girlfriend to arrive, were killed.
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.
Death penalty cases are automatically appealed.
There are 223 people now on death row in Pennsylvania prisons. Padilla will join them when he is transferred from the Blair County Jail. He will be the 15th Pennsylvania death row inmate awaiting execution under three death sentences, according to the state Department of Corrections.
© 2006 AP Wire and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.
www.centredaily.com