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    Ronald Robinson Sentenbced to 2 Life Terms In 2009 PA Slayings

    DA seeks death penalty in Penn Hills cop shooting

    The Allegheny County District Attorney will seek the death penalty against the man accused of killing Penn Hills police officer Michael Crawshaw last month.

    Stephen A. Zappala Jr. filed notice of his intent this morning.

    Ronald Robinson, 32, of Homewood, is charged with shooting Officer Crawshaw as he responded to a call for a man with a gun at a home on Johnston Road. Mr. Robinson also is accused of killing Danyal Morton, who owed the defendant $500 from a drug deal.

    According to the notice filed today, prosecutors listed a number of aggravating circumstances to support their request for the death penalty. Those include: that the victim was a police officer killed in the line of duty; that the killing occurred during the commission of another felony and that two people were killed. The notice also lists an aggravating circumstance specifically related to the slaying of Mr. Morton -- that he was involved or in competition with Mr. Robinson in the sale or distribution of drugs, and that his death was related to that association.

    Investigators say Officer Crawshaw was sitting in his patrol car in the 200 block of Johnston Road awaiting backup on the evening of Dec. 6 when Mr. Robinson shot him with an assault rifle as he fled the scene. Officers later found Mr. Morton's body in a second-floor bathroom at the home in question.

    Mr. Robinson was arrested early the next morning. He had been out on parole at the time of the shootings.

    http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10019/1029389-100.stm?cmpid=latest.xml

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    Trial delayed for suspect in slaying of Penn Hills officer

    The man accused of killing Penn Hills police Officer Michael Crawshaw will have to wait two more months for his trial after his attorneys requested a delay.

    Jury selection in the capital case against Ronald Robinson was scheduled to begin Tuesday. Defense attorney Patrick Thomassey said Friday that he requested a delay to allow a mitigation expert to complete her report. Allegheny County Common Pleas President Judge Donna Jo McDaniel tentatively rescheduled the trial for March, he said.

    "The Supreme Court requires us to have a mitigation expert, and she has not finished her work," Thomassey said. "It generally takes these experts a year to do their work. It takes a long time."

    Robinson, 34, of Homewood is accused of fatally shooting Crawshaw on Dec. 6, 2009. The officer was responding to a 911 call on Johnston Road, where police said Robinson killed Danyal Morton, 40, inside a home.

    In January 2010, District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. filed his intention to seek the death penalty in the case. Deputy District Attorney Mark V. Tranquilli, the lead prosecutor on the case, said he agreed with the delay because it helps ensure that a conviction won't be overturned on appeal.

    "Our goal is to try this case once and try it right, so that if a conviction is obtained, it will withstand appellate court scrutiny," Tranquilli said. "Inasmuch as it will result in a brief postponement, it's time well spent."

    Mitigation experts help counter prosecution arguments that defendants should be put to death. Their work comes into play during the penalty phase of a trial. In order for juries to consider the death penalty, defendants must be convicted of first-degree murder.

    Thomassey is representing Robinson in the penalty phase, should the case get that far. Veronica Brestensky is representing Robinson in the verdict phase.

    "I'm just happy we got a delay to fully investigate everything to ensure he gets a full defense," Brestensky said.

    Police said Crawshaw, 32, was awaiting backup in his cruiser when Robinson fled the house and sprayed his car with bullets from an assault rifle.

    Tranquilli said that Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey A. Manning granted a similar delay in the case against Richard Poplawski to allow for a mitigation expert to complete a report.

    The jury convicted Poplawski, who remains on death row for killing three Pittsburgh police officers at his Stanton Heights home on April 4, 2009.

    Read more: Trial delayed for suspect in slaying of Penn Hills officer - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pitt...#ixzz1jSwmsVH2

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    Jury begins deliberations in W. Pa. cop killing

    An Allegheny County jury heard closing arguments Monday and began deliberations in the case of a police officer who was shot to death in 2009.

    Prosecutors say 35-year-old Ronald Robinson confessed to killing Penn Hills Officer Michael Crawshaw after he killed another man in a drug-related dispute, but jurors are debating whether Robinson should be charged with first or second-degree murder.

    Robinson's attorney contends that Crawshaw's death was second-degree murder, a killing during another felony punishable by life in prison. Deputy District Attorney Mark Tranquilli wants the jury to find Robinson guilty of premeditated first-degree murder.

    If the jury agrees with Tranquilli, the panel must then decide whether Robinson deserves life in prison or the death penalty.

    Read more: http://www.ctpost.com/news/crime/art...#ixzz2I0AB2Eh3
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    Jury selection is set to begin for the death penalty trial of a man charged with fatally shooting a Pittsburgh-area police officer after also murdering another man over a $500 drug debt.

    The Allegheny County trial for 35-year-old Ronald Robinson was delayed last month after a key witness failed to show up, but he's since been jailed and will be called to testify.

    Prosecutors allege that Robinson gunned down Penn Hills officer Michael Crawshaw who arrived at the scene shortly after Robinson allegedly killed 40-year-old Danyal Morton over a $500 drug debt in December 2009.

    Jury selection was to begin Tuesday. Once the jury is selected, they'll begin hearing opening arguments and testimony on Nov. 26.

    Robinson has pleaded not guilty.

    Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/news/crime/art...#ixzz2C6yIMtWJ
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    All sides in the Ronald Robinson trial agree that Robinson gunned down Penn Hills Officer Michael Crawshaw and Danyal Morton in cold blood more than three years ago.

    But a jury at the Allegheny County Courthouse found different degrees of murder when they returned their verdict Tuesday afternoon.

    Robinson was found guilty of first-degree murder for killing Morton and second-degree murder for killing Crawshaw.

    Only the first-degree count related to Morton carries the possibility of the death penalty. The jury will meet again to determine if Robinson should be put to death or spend life in prison.

    Read more: http://www.wtae.com/news/local/alleg...#ixzz2I57mWOpH
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    Jury selection delayed..

    Defendant in Pa. cop killing found 'unresponsive'

    A man charged with fatally shooting a Pittsburgh-area police officer has been found unresponsive in his jail cell, indefinitely delaying jury selection in his death penalty trial.

    Defense attorney Veronica Brestensky tells The Associated Press that 35-year-old Ronald Robinson is on life support and doctors have been running tests to determine what is wrong with him. She says he was found on the floor of his Allegheny County Jail cell on Tuesday. Brestensky says Robinson was not hanged and that initial tests have found no drugs in his system.

    Prosecutors allege Robinson gunned down Penn Hills officer Michael Crawshaw who arrived shortly after Robinson allegedly killed 40-year-old Danyal Morton over a $500 drug debt in December 2009.

    Jury selection was to begin Tuesday, with testimony scheduled for Nov. 26.

    Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/news/crime/art...#ixzz2C87r3FcW
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    Man Gets Two Life Terms in Slaying of Pa. Officer

    Ronald Robinson was going to spend the rest of his life in prison, no matter what.

    The jury hearing his double homicide trial guaranteed that with the verdict it rendered Tuesday afternoon.

    Robinson, 35, of Homewood was found guilty of first-degree murder for the killing of Danyal Morton over a drug debt and second-degree murder for the slaying of Penn Hills police Officer Michael Crawshaw, who was killed responding to a call for shots fired at Morton's home three years ago.

    The case was supposed to then move into a penalty phase for Morton's death, in which the prosecution would present evidence of aggravating factors, attempting to convince the jury of seven women and five men that Robinson should be executed for his actions. Instead the process was short-circuited. The prosecution was stymied for the penalty phase in that the second-degree verdict for Officer Crawshaw would preclude the Allegheny County district attorney's office from presenting any of the aggravating factors that went along with the slaying of an officer in the line of duty.

    After some consultation with Morton's family after the verdict was rendered, Deputy District Attorney Mark V. Tranquilli announced to the courtroom packed with Officer Crawshaw's family, friends and fellow officers, that his office was not going to seek the death penalty.

    "Victim impact testimony is emotionally draining," Mr. Tranquilli said. "Given the current state of the death penalty in Pennsylvania, it just wasn't worth the pain and suffering they were going to go through."

    But, he continued, "the district attorney has always believed and continues to believe this was an appropriate capital case."

    Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Kevin G. Sasinoski, after listening to victim impact testimony from only Linda Crawshaw, the officer's mother, sentenced Robinson to two consecutive sentences of life in prison without parole.

    Mrs. Crawshaw took the witness stand and read from a statement she had prepared.

    She recounted some of her favorite memories of her son, as well as the pain her family has endured since Dec. 6, 2009.

    It has been "utterly devastating to lose a child to senseless murder," she said. "To have to live with the memory of the violence associated with it is unbearable and neverending."

    She recounted how, as a 3-year-old, her son would not stay at preschool without her, and so she became a teacher's aide.

    And later, after dropping him off for the first time at Edinboro University, where he earned degrees in social work and psychology, crying all the way home.

    Her son was working as a probation officer when he announced to his mother he planned to become a policeman.

    "I had mixed feelings of pride and fear that day," she said. "How was I supposed to know that both of those would come true so quickly?"

    Mrs. Crawshaw talked about feeling guilt when she finds herself happy or laughing now; the burden left for her son, Matthew, who is a police officer as well; and how her husband, Jim, has been devastated by Michael's death.

    "My biggest fear is I'll close my eyes one day and not remember the sound of his voice anymore," she said.

    She concluded by talking about the greater loss incurred by the death of her son.

    "Society has lost all the good he would have accomplished throughout his lifetime."

    Mr. Tranquilli spoke on behalf of the Morton family, noting that the man's brother, Eric Morton, a city police detective, had attended the trial throughout.

    Danyal Morton, the prosecutor said, grew up in a good home, played baseball and football and, as the youngest of three sons, was the life of the party.

    But he was also a drug addict.

    "The Danyal Morton the jury saw in the photographs during the course of this case is not the Danyal Morton they knew," Mr. Tranquilli said. "Their memories of Danyal will always be the happy ones."

    When given the opportunity to speak, Robinson declined.

    No one from his family was present during the verdict or sentencing.

    Read full story.. http://www.officer.com/news/10853904...-of-pa-officer
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    Doctors say it is a “medical mystery” why cop slaying suspect was found unresponsive in jail cell

    Doctors said it is a “medical mystery” why a man accused of fatally shooting a Penn Hills police officer was found unresponsive in his jail cell just hours before jury selection was to begin in his trial, Allegheny County Deputy District Attorney Mark V. Tranquilli said Wednesday.

    Ronald Robinson, 35, remains under observation at Mercy Hospital but physicians have not been able to figure out what happened when jail guards discovered him in his cell at the Allegheny County Jail at 4:30 a.m. Tuesday.

    He was on life support for a time Tuesday night but by Wednesday morning had started to recover and was semi-conscious, Tranquilli said.

    Tranquilli said a small amount of marijuana was detected in Robinson’s blood but all other tests have come back negative. Tranquilli said Robinson is expected to remain at Mercy under observation until Friday, when he will be transferred back to the jail.

    Prosecutors and Robinson’s attorneys met with Common Pleas Judge Kevin G. Sasinoski Wednesday morning to discuss jury selection and trial preparation, said Mike Manko, spokesman for District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr.

    Jury selection had been set to begin Tuesday morning in Robinson’s trial for the fatal shooting of Danyal Morton, 40, of Penn Hills and Officer Michael Crawshaw, 32, on Dec. 6. 2009.

    Police said Robinson killed Morton over a $500 drug debt and upon exiting the house fired at Crawshaw — the first officer to respond to the shooting — striking him several times as he sat in his patrol car.

    The District Attorney’s Office is seeking the death penalty.

    Jury selection will now begin on Nov. 26, Tranquilli said.

    Read more: http://triblive.com/news/adminpage/2...#ixzz2CDnOhXPN
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    Judge denies request to delay death-penalty trial to find defendant's medical issue

    The death penalty trial for the man accused of killing a Penn Hills police officer will begin Nov. 26.

    Defense attorneys for Ronald Robinson, who earlier this week was found unresponsive in his Allegheny County Jail cell and had to be intubated at UPMC Mercy, asked today to postpone the court date to try to give doctors time to figure out what may have caused the man's illness.

    Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Kevin G. Sasinoski denied the request.

    He heard testimony from Robinson's intensive-care unit doctor, who said he did not know what happened to Robinson or whether it might occur again.

    Robinson was found unresponsive on the floor of his cell at the Allegheny County Jail about 4:30 a.m. on Tuesday -- the day originally slated for jury selection.

    He was taken to UPMC Mercy where he was given anti-seizure medications, sedated and intubated. His body temperature upon arrival at the hospital was 90.8 degrees.

    By the next day, Robinson was able to breathe on his own and was conscious. He was released back to the jail Thursday afternoon.

    "Do you have any explanation as to what happened to Mr. Robinson?" Deputy District Attorney Mark V. Tranquilli asked.

    "I don't know what happened," Dr. Alan Barnett answered.

    He said he did not know what, if any, impact the illness had on Robinson or his mental state.

    "I don't know what he was like before, and leaving the hospital, I don't know what he's like now," the doctor said.

    He said that Robinson was able to answer questions and understand what was happening. He also participated in today's court proceeding by answering questions by the judge.

    Defense attorney Patrick Thomassey argued his client should be given additional time to recover before putting him in the high-stress environment of a capital case over a several-week period.

    "It makes no sense to me, in his condition, to start the trial," Mr. Thomassey said.

    Judge Sasinoski disagreed, saying he heard no testimony to preclude Robinson's participation at trial.


    Read more: http://old.post-gazette.com/pg/12321...#ixzz2CQVK2jfJ
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    Jury selection has begun in the death penalty trial of Ronald Robinson, who is accused in the shooting death of Penn Hills Police Officer Michael Crawshaw.

    Out of a panel of 35 potential jurors, only seven indicated they had heard or read about the case.

    Judge Kevin Sasinoski and attorneys for both sides met with jurors individually Monday morning for further questioning.

    Robinson is also present during the questioning.

    Robinson is accused of shooting and killing Officer Micheal Crawshaw in December of 2009. He has been in jail since his arrest.

    Earlier this month, the jury selection process was delayed when Robinson was rushed to the hospital after being found unresponsive in his cell.

    The prosecutor told the judge that doctors reported whatever happened to Robinson was a “medical mystery” and was given seizure medication.

    They also said he was under the influence of marijuana, which is a contraband problem at the jail.

    Robinson appeared to be having a seizure and was intubated because he couldn’t breathe on his own

    In October, Robinson’s trial was delayed when a key witness for the prosecution disappeared. Once U.S. Marshals found the witness, the presiding judge ordered him held in custody until trial.

    Selection wrapped up for the day after 4 p.m. with two picked.

    http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2012/...ls-cop-killer/
    An uninformed opponent is a dangerous opponent.

    "Y'all be makin shit up" ~ Markeith Loyd

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