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Thread: Christian Bey Sentenced to LWOP in 2019 PA Slaying of Off Duty Officer, Calvin Hall

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    Christian Bey Sentenced to LWOP in 2019 PA Slaying of Off Duty Officer, Calvin Hall









    Death penalty to be sought in officer's slaying

    By San Francisco Chronicle

    PITTSBURGH (AP) — Prosecutors have announced plans to seek the death penalty in the slaying of an off-duty Pittsburgh police officer shot to death in a street confrontation last month.

    The Allegheny County district attorney's office informed the court Monday of their intention to seek capital punishment should Christian Bey be convicted of first-degree murder.

    Prosecutors also unsealed the indictment charging Bey, 30, with homicide and firearms crimes in the July 14 shooting of 35-year-old Officer Calvin Hall during a street dispute in the Homewood neighborhood as a party was going on.

    Prosecutors argued that the death penalty would be warranted because the victim was a police officer, the slaying allegedly occurred during commission of another felony and there was also risk to another person.

    Authorities said Hall died at a hospital three days after he was shot three times. Family members told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that Hall was visiting cousins but decided to leave because a party across the street was getting rowdy. He then returned to make sure everyone was safe after his cousin was threatened by someone with a gun.

    His cousin, Darnell Coates, said an argument among a small group of people in the street, including Hall, escalated. He and Hall tried to leave, and shots rang out, hitting Hall, he said.

    Hall joined the Pittsburgh police force two years ago after previously serving as an officer in Braddock and at Point Park University.

    https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/cri...php?psid=hxbkM
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

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    Man Charged In Off-Duty Officer’s Shooting Formally Arraigned

    By CBS Pittsburgh News

    PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — The case against Christian Bey, the man accused in the fatal shooting of Pittsburgh Police Officer Calvin Hall, was back in court Friday morning.

    Bey was formally arraigned on criminal homicide and firearms charges in front of Judge Jill Rangos.

    The next date for the case was set for Sept. 20 in front of Judge Kevin Sasinoski, who has been assigned to the trial.

    Bey’s attorney, Carmen Robinson, said earlier this week that her client planned to plead not guilty in Officer Hall’s shooting death.

    Officer Hall was shot while off-duty in Homewood on July 14. He passed away in the hospital on July 17.

    https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2019...hall-shooting/
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

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    September 20, 2019

    Trial Date Set For Christian Bey, Who Is Accused Of Fatally Shooting Pittsburgh Police Officer Calvin Hall

    By CBS Pittsburgh News

    PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — The trial date is set for the man who is accused of fatally shooting an off-duty Pittsburgh police officer.

    The trial date for Christian Bey has been set for Dec. 12, though the date is subject to change.

    Officer Calvin Hall was shot while off-duty in Homewood on July 14. He died in the hospital on July 17.

    https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2019...christian-bey/
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

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    Man charged in killing Pittsburgh police officer seeks to suppress statement

    By Paula Reed Ward
    Trib Live

    Five days before Christian Bey was arrested in connection with the July 14, 2019, fatal shooting of off-duty Pittsburgh police Officer Calvin Hall, he was pulled over in a traffic stop.

    Homicide detectives had developed Bey as a suspect and put out a notice for patrol officers in the area to be on the lookout for him and his black Dodge Durango, which had been parked in the rear of the house near the shooting that night on Monticello Street in Homewood.

    According to police body camera video played at a hearing on Tuesday in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court, Bey was cooperative with officers during the traffic stop — chatting with them, talking about his infant daughter and providing them information from his cellphone to contact his alleged alibi for the time of the shooting.

    Bey’s defense attorneys now want those statements — and evidence obtained from his cellphone and Facebook page — suppressed.

    Judge Kevin G. Sasinoski has not yet ruled on the motions, and additional argument is scheduled for Nov. 1. The trial is expected to begin with jury selection on Feb. 28, with opening statements slated for two weeks later.

    Bey was charged through the county grand jury with criminal homicide and firearms counts.

    Hall, 36, died on July 17, 2019, from wounds he sustained in the early morning July 14 shooting.

    He had been attending a block party the night of July 13 on Monticello Street and visiting with family members. According to the criminal complaint, when Hall tried to leave, an intoxicated woman tried to stop him, sitting down in the middle of the road to block him.

    The complaint said Hall got out of his vehicle and moved her. He was then seen arguing with Bey, before leaving.

    However, police said that a witness called Hall and asked him to come back as there was an argument between several women, including Bey’s mother, Crystal Roberson. Witnesses told police Hall returned, asked the women what was going on, and then walked away. He went back again, tried to apologize to the women, and then was shot, the complaint said.

    At Tuesday’s hearing, Pittsburgh homicide Det. Edward Fallert testified that investigators developed Bey as a possible suspect based on video surveillance obtained from the area around the scene and witness statements.

    “At that time, I wanted to talk to Christian Bey,” he said.

    After 11 p.m. on July 17, 2019, patrol officers spotted Bey in his Dodge Durango and pulled him over. His wife and 9-month-old daughter were with him.

    The initial video played in court shows officers — at least one with his gun drawn — demanding Bey step out of his car.

    He was handcuffed and put in the back of a patrol car. Once he was detained, both Bey and the officers he was with spoke amiably.

    Then, about 22 minutes later, Fallert arrived on scene to talk to him.

    Although the audio on the body cam video is difficult to make out, Fallert can be heard reciting Bey’s Miranda warnings.

    “He was cooperative and agreed to talk,” Fallert told the court.

    The detective testified that Bey told him he left the party on Monticello Street that night prior to the shooting. Bey claimed he was picked up by a man named James, and the two of them went to an after-hours club in Homewood for drinks.

    James then dropped Bey off, he said. Bey claimed he heard about the shooting the next day.

    As Fallert questioned Bey in the back of the police car, he testified, he asked for James’ last name and phone number. Bey said he didn’t know the name, and the number was stored in his phone, which was still in his vehicle.

    At the end of the interview, Fallert said, he removed Bey’s handcuffs, walked with him back to the SUV and asked Bey to unlock his phone and provide James’ number, which he did.

    Fallert said he did not take Bey’s phone at the time.

    “I didn’t have a search warrant,” the detective said.

    Bey was arrested in the shooting on July 22, 2019.

    The defense is attempting to suppress Bey’s statements, alleging that Fallert did not properly advise Bey of his Miranda rights during the traffic stop. The parties agreed at the end of Tuesday’s hearing that the prosecution would attempt to obtain an audio recording taken from inside the patrol car where Bey was questioned to better hear what occurred.

    Bey has also filed a motion seeking to limit the number of police officers in uniform in the courtroom during trial. Farrell argued to the court that a large number of officers, particularly in uniform, could be considered to be intimidating by jurors or could influence their decision-making.

    Sasinoski said he was disinclined to ban officers from the courtroom, but also said, “I’m not insensitive to what your concerns are.”

    The judge said he could reconsider the issue at trial if it comes up.

    Bey’s defense attorneys are also seeking to suppress evidence taken from his Facebook page, alleging there was not adequate probable cause to obtain a search warrant for that or his cellphone. They have, additionally, challenged the constitutionality of the death penalty, alleging that it is inappropriately applied in Allegheny County.

    https://triblive.com/local/man-charg...ess-statement/
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

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    Death penalty trial in slaying of off-duty Pittsburgh officer postponed until February

    PAULA REED WARD

    The trial for a man accused in 2019 of killing an off-duty Pittsburgh police officer has been postponed until Feb. 27.

    Jury selection in the capital case against Christian Bey was supposed to begin on Monday before Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Kevin G. Sasinoski.

    However, according to a motion for a continuance filed in the case this week, Bey’s defense attorneys need additional time to ensure that they meet the requirements under Pennsylvania law to be death-penalty qualified.

    Bey, 33, of Wilkinsburg, is charged with criminal homicide and firearms counts stemming from the July 14, 2019, shooting death of off-duty Pittsburgh police Officer Calvin Hall.

    Hall, 35, died three days later.

    According to the criminal complaint filed in the case, Hall had been at a block party the night of July 13 on Monticello Street in Homewood. When he tried to leave, investigators said, an intoxicated woman tried to stop him and sat down in the middle of the road to block him.

    Hall got out of his vehicle and moved her, but then could be seen arguing with Bey.

    Hall left, but received a call asking him to come back a short time later because there was an argument between several women, including Bey’s mother.

    Hall returned, asked the women what was going on and walked away. He went back again, tried to apologize to the women and was shot, police said.

    Bey was arrested eight days after the shooting. About five weeks later, the district attorney’s office announced it would seek the death penalty, alleging three aggravating factors. They include that Hall was a police officer who was killed while performing his duties or because of his position; that the killing put others in grave danger; and because the slaying happened during the commission of another felony — Bey’s alleged firearms violations.

    Pennsylvania Rule 801 sets the requirements for defense attorneys in the state to be able to participate in a death penalty case.

    They include having at least five years experience in criminal law, as well as having served as lead or co-counsel in at least eight significant cases — felonies that carry at least 10 years in prison — that went to a jury for deliberation.

    In addition, the attorneys must have completed at least 18 hours of continuing legal education relevant to capital representation in the last three years.

    “The purpose of this rule is to provide minimum uniform statewide standards for the experience and education of appointed and retained counsel in capital cases, to thus ensure such counsel possess the ability, knowledge, and experience to provide representation in the most competent and professional manner possible,” the rule says.

    Bey is represented by attorneys Thomas N. Farrell, Carmen Robinson and Elbert Gray Jr.

    Farrell said he could not comment because of a gag order in the case. Robinson and Gray did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

    According to the Pennsylvania Continuing Legal Education website, there are 29 attorneys listed in Allegheny County as being death penalty qualified. Farrell is included on the list. Neither Robinson nor Gray are.

    Jury selection has been rescheduled for Feb. 27, with testimony to begin on March 13.

    https://triblive.com/local/death-pen...ntil-february/
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    DA's office withdraws notice to seek death penalty in 2019 officer slaying

    PAULA REED WARD

    Less than a month before trial is scheduled to start, the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office on Wednesday withdrew its intent to seek the death penalty against a man accused of killing an off-duty Pittsburgh police officer in 2019.

    Christian Bey, 33, of Wilkinsburg, is scheduled to go to trial on charges that he killed Calvin Hall at the end of February. Jury selection is set to start on Feb. 27, and testimony to begin on March 14.

    According to the criminal complaint filed against Bey, Hall was at a block party the night of July 13, 2019 on Monticello Street in Homewood.

    When Hall tried to leave, a woman who was intoxicated tried to stop him, sitting down in the middle of the road to block him.

    Hall got out of his vehicle and moved her, but then began arguing with Bey. The complaint said that Hall left but then got a call asking him to return because an argument had broken out among several women, including Bey’s mother.

    When Hall returned, he asked the women what was going on and then walked away. When he went back again, he tried to apologize to the women and was shot.

    Eight days later, Bey was charged in the shooting, and five weeks after that, District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. announced he would seek the death penalty in the case.

    Among the aggravating factors he cited — which are required to be proved for capital punishment — the prosecution listed that Hall was a police officer who was killing while performing his duties or because of his position; that the killing put others in grave danger; and because the slaying happened during the commission of another felony — alleged firearms violations.

    But on Wednesday, according to the docket sheet in Bey’s case, the district attorney’s office filed a rescission of its notice to seek the death penalty.

    A message left with the DA’s office late Wednesday was not immediately returned.

    There is a gag order in the case, prohibiting the parties from commenting.

    https://triblive.com/local/das-offic...ficer-slaying/
    Thank you for the adventure - Axol

    Tried so hard and got so far, but in the end it doesn’t even matter - Linkin Park

    Hear me, my chiefs! I am tired. My heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever. - Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt

    I’m going to the ghost McDonalds - Garcello

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    Trial opens in shooting death of off-duty Pittsburgh officer

    AP

    PITTSBURGH (AP) — Trial has begun in western Pennsylvania in the death of an off-duty Pittsburgh police officer shot and killed in a street confrontation more than 3 1/2 years ago.

    Christian Bey, 34, is charged with homicide in Allegheny County in the July 2019 shooting that killed 36-year-old Officer Calvin Hall after an apparent dispute at a Homewood block party.

    Family members told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that Hall was visiting cousins but decided to leave because a party across the street was getting rowdy. He then returned to make sure everyone was safe after his cousin was threatened by someone with a gun. Hall was shot three times and died three days later. He had joined the Pittsburgh police force two years earlier after previously serving as an officer in Braddock and at Point Park University.

    Deputy District Attorney Stephanie Ramaley told jurors in her opening statement Tuesday that DNA on the murder weapon matched that of the defendant, the Tribune-Review reported. She urged them to focus on the evidence against the defendant and said the slain officer “is not on trial in this case.”

    Defense attorney Carmen Robinson said prosecutors hadn’t given jurors the whole picture about the fighting and arguing on the street that night. She said the case was about “a rush to judgment and a biased investigation.”

    Allegheny County prosecutors last month notified the court that they no longer intended to seek the death penalty if the defendant is convicted of first-degree murder.

    Judge Kevin Sasinoski last week denied a defense motion to keep uniformed police officers from attending the trial, or at least limit the number allowed in the courtroom. He also denied other motions to suppress evidence in the case, including data from Bey’s cellphone and Facebook account and his statements to investigators.

    https://apnews.com/article/pittsburg...7ed435428d85fd

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    Mistrial declared in slaying of off-duty Pittsburgh officer

    AP

    PITTSBURGH (AP) — A mistrial has been declared in the western Pennsylvania trial of a man charged in the death of an off-duty Pittsburgh police officer shot and killed in a street confrontation more than 3 1/2 years ago.

    Attorneys for 34-year-old defendant Christian Bey sought and were granted a mistrial ruling by an Allegheny County judge Wednesday after a prosecution witness mentioned that she had known the defendant since he moved into the neighborhood after having been “released from prison.”

    Bey is charged with homicide in the July 2019 shooting that killed 36-year-old Officer Calvin Hall after an apparent dispute at a Homewood block party. No date has yet been set for a retrial, which must take place within 120 days.

    A prosecutor told jurors in her opening statement Tuesday that DNA on the murder weapon matched that of the defendant, the Tribune-Review reported. Defense attorney Carmen Robinson, however, said the case was about “a rush to judgment and a biased investigation.” Prosecutors last month notified the court that they no longer intended to seek the death penalty if the defendant is convicted of first-degree murder.

    https://apnews.com/article/pittsburg...b0fb3e472972ba

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    Christian Bey trial Day 5: Testimony on the murder weapon

    By Bob Mayo
    WTAE News

    PITTSBURGH — When the trial of Christian Bey resumes Wednesday morning, the jury is poised to view prosecution evidence video of a traffic stop, which was the first police questioning of Bey.

    The jurors only got to see the first minutes of the dashcam video before the trial broke for the day Tuesday. The balance of that video is to be played when the trial resumes in the morning.

    Bey is charged with the fatal shooting of off-duty Pittsburgh police Officer Calvin Hall, who authorities say was trying to break up arguments at a block party near his cousin's home in Homewood in July 2019.

    For much of day five of the trial, the jury heard testimony from a forensic scientist who examined the murder weapon.

    Forensic scientist Thomas Morgan testified to how he determined that the 45 caliber semi-automatic was the murder weapon.

    A police dog had located the gun in a yard along the side street where the killer fled.

    Morgan said three cartridges found at the scene where Hall was shot matched microscopic markings from the firing pin in the gun.

    He also testified that three bullets recovered from the autopsy of Hall matched microscopic markings from inside the barrel of the gun.

    According to the prosecution, DNA from Bey was found on the gun itself.

    https://www.wtae.com/article/christi...eapon/43445523
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

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    New dashcam video shows questioning of man accused of killing off-duty police officer in 2019

    By Talia Kirkland
    Yahoo News

    In a never-before-seen dashcam video, jurors got their first opportunity to hear directly from Christian Bey in court on Wednesday.

    The video shows an officer questioning him just one day after the fatal shooting that claimed the life of off-duty police officer Calvin Hall in 2019.

    In the dashcam video, police pulled Bey over to question him about the shooting outside of his home on Monticello Street the night before.

    They begin by reading him his Miranda Rights and letting him know he is not under arrest and is only being questioned.

    Police say Bey became a person of interest after witnesses testified he was at the block party, but he was nowhere to be found when police arrived.

    When questioned, Bey seemed uncertain about how he arrived at the party.

    “How did you get to the party? Were you in this car, the car you are driving today?” Detective Edward Fallert asked.

    “Yes, I was dropped off, I mean I drove my car. Parked at my mom’s and left with a friend. We went to go have drinks,” Bey replied.

    Police also asked Bey what time he left the party, but he was unsure and said he went to an after-hours nightclub that opened at 1:30 a.m. with his friend, James Blackmon.

    Police continued their interview and asked Bey if he owned a gun and if he owns or knows anyone who owns a .45 caliber pistol. That’s the murder weapon police collected in the alley where witnesses said they saw Bey run after the shooting.

    “I probably know I don’t own guns, but I don’t know what type of guns anyone else has. I’m not allowed to be around their guns,” Bey said.

    Bey was not arrested at the time of the questioning.

    Blackmon, the man Bey said he was with the night of the shooting, is a witness for the Commonwealth, and will be called to testify at some point during this case.

    https://news.yahoo.com/dashcam-video...230324658.html
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

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