GUILTY PA - Officer Brian Shaw, 25, Fatally Shot, New Kensington, 17 Nov 2017

[YESorNO]

Father Of Suspect In New Kensington Officer’s Shooting In Court On Witness Intimidation Charges (with clip)

April 11, 2019

"NEW KENSINGTON (KDKA) — The father of an accused cop killer was back in court Thursday for allegedly threatening witnesses in his son’s case.

A little over three months after being acquitted of intimidating a witness, 47-year-old Gregory Baucum Jr. was again in handcuffs, heading into a preliminary hearing for allegedly doing the same thing for the same reason.

County Detective Ray Dupilka took the stand, testifying that Baucum, the father of alleged cop killer Rahmael Sal Holt, sent a series of Facebook messages to a woman who spoke to law enforcement about what she knew about Holt and the night New Kensington police officer Brian Shaw was murdered on Nov. 17, 2017...."

Father Of Suspect In New Kensington Officer’s Shooting In Court On Witness Intimidation Charges

 

[YESorNO]

Judge denies accused cop killer Rahmael Holt’s request for outside jury

June 10, 2019

"Jury selection in the capital murder trial of Rahmael Sal Holt will begin in Westmoreland County, but could be moved to another county if finding impartial jurors proves to be too difficult, a judge ruled Monday.

Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rita Hathaway rejected a defense request to move jury selection to another county because of intense pretrial publicity the case has generated since the November 2017 slaying of New Kensington police Officer Brian Shaw.

Holt, 31, of Harrison is charged with first-degree murder in connection with the fatal shooting of Shaw. Prosecutors have said they will seek the death penalty should there be a conviction....

Jury selection for Holt’s November trial is scheduled to begin in late October. Testimony is slated to begin Nov. 4...."

Judge denies accused cop killer Rahmael Holt’s request for outside jury | TribLIVE.com

 

[YESorNO]

Defense to file new evidence in New Kensington cop-killing case

August 13, 2019

"Defense attorneys for the man awaiting trial for the 2017 shooting death of New Kensington police Officer Brian Shaw will have four weeks to disclose potential evidence that could be used to convince jurors to save his life, a judge said Tuesday.

During a pretrial conference, lawyers for Rahmael Sal Holt, 31, of Harrison, said they have not yet received a report commissioned to find mitigating evidence as to why the death penalty should not be imposed on their client.
Holt did not speak during the hearing before Westmoreland County Judge Rita Hathaway....

In court Tuesday, Dawson said the defense expects to soon receive the report from the mitigation expert it hired last year, as well as findings by another potential witness who was tasked with analyzing the handwriting on a letter prosecutors claimed Holt wrote to the driver of the vehicle Shaw stopped just before he was killed.

The judge ordered the defense lawyers to turn over both reports to prosecutors by Sept. 10.

Jury selection for Holt’s trial is scheduled to begin Oct. 28. Hathaway in June denied a defense request to select a jury from another county, but said she would reconsider if pretrial publicity makes it impossible to find local residents qualified to hear the case.

Testimony is expected to start Nov. 4."

Defense to file new evidence in New Kensington cop-killing case | TribLIVE.com

 

[YESorNO]

Trials delayed for 2 accused of helping man charged in Brian Shaw’s death

October 1, 2019

"Trials for the father and a cousin of the Harrison man accused in the fatal shooting death two years ago of New Kensington police Officer Brian Shaw were postponed until December....

Baucum’s son, Rahmael Sal Holt, 31, is scheduled to go before a Westmoreland County jury in November on a first-degree murder charge in connection with the Nov. 17, 2017, shooting of Shaw following a traffic stop in New Kensington. Prosecutors said they will seek the death penalty against Holt if he is convicted....

Jury selection in Holt’s trial is scheduled to begin Oct. 28 with testimony to start on Nov. 4 before Westmoreland County Judge Rita Hathaway."

Trials delayed for 2 accused of helping man charged in Brian Shaw’s death | TribLIVE.com

 

[YESorNO]

Defense for suspect accused of killing Brian Shaw wants background info withheld

October 4, 2019

"A Westmoreland County judge ruled Friday that lawyers for the man facing a potential death penalty in connection with the 2017 fatal shooting of New Kensington police Officer Brian Shaw must turn over to prosecutors a report detailing why his life should be spared should he be found guilty.

Defense attorney Tim Dawson said a mitigation expert who evaluated Rahmael Sal Holt found that he suffers from no mental health or intellectual disabilities, but societal issues that impacted his life and upbringing could persuade jurors to impose a life prison sentence if they find him guilty.

Defense lawyers claimed Holt’s case would be damaged if that report were disclosed to the prosecution prior to his upcoming trial...."

Defense for suspect accused of killing Brian Shaw wants background info withheld | TribLIVE.com

 

[YESorNO]

Prosecutors: Man accused of killing Officer Brian Shaw was an armed drug dealer

October 16, 2019

"Westmoreland County prosecutors said Wednesday they have evidence that the man accused of killing New Kensington police Officer Brian Shaw was an armed drug dealer who sought to avoid arrest when he fired the fatal shots.

According to court documents presented during a pretrial hearing in preparation for the capital murder trial of Rahmael Sal Holt, prosecutors said they want jurors to hear evidence that he brandished a .40 caliber semiautomatic handgun, the same firearm suspected as the murder weapon, during previous drug deals....

Hathaway said she will convene a hearing next week on the prosecution’s request to allow the gun and drug evidence against Holt. The murder weapon hasn’t been recovered.

Jury selection for Holt’s trial remains scheduled to begin Oct. 28 after Hathaway rejected a request from Holt on Wednesday to delay his case and fire his court-appointed lawyers, Tim Dawson and Jim Robinson...."

Prosecutors: Man accused of killing Officer Brian Shaw was an armed drug dealer | TribLIVE.com

 

[YESorNO]

Westmoreland judge calls father of accused cop killer ‘danger to the community’

October 17, 2019

"A Westmoreland County judge ruled Thursday that the father of accused cop killer Rahmael Sal Holt will remain in jail on $100,000 bond until after his son’s capital murder trial next month.

Gregory Baucum Jr., 48, of Pittsburgh has been in jail since March after he was arrested and charged in connection with what police said were attempts to intimidate witnesses expected to testify against his son....

Holt’s trial is scheduled to begin with jury selection Oct. 28; testimony is slated to start Nov. 4...."

Westmoreland judge calls father of accused cop killer ‘danger to the community’ | TribLIVE.com

 

[JerseyGirl]

Opening statements and testimony in Holt’s first-degree murder trial is scheduled to start 9 a.m. It’s expected to last up to nine days.

Emotions high as trial of New Kensington officer’s accused killer begins | TribLIVE.com

 

[JerseyGirl]

‘Incredible Stupidity’: DA, Defense Attorney Deliver Opening Statements In Rahmael Holt Trial

 

[JerseyGirl]

RAHMAEL HOLT: New video released in court shows moments before Officer Brian Shaw was shot, killed

 

[CCJD]

Guilty on all counts. Justice is served.

A Westmoreland County jury found Rahmael Holt guilty on all counts, including murder of a law enforcement officer in the first degree. Jury deliberations lasted just over an hour.

District Attorney John Peck has said that his office intends to seek the death penalty for Holt in the sentencing phase of the trial.

RAHMAEL HOLT: Man found of killing New Kensington police Officer Brian Shaw

 

[JerseyGirl]

Tavon Harper was transferred from the Westmoreland County Jail to Washington County "for his protection."

Harper testified in Holt's trial on Nov. 5.

Harper is scheduled for trial on charges of fleeing police and possessing drugs early next month.

RAHMAEL HOLT WITNESS: Key witness in New Ken cop killer's trial transferred due to safety concerns

 

[JerseyGirl]

Father of convicted cop killer has trial on intimidation charge delayed until February | TribLIVE.com

 

[YESorNO]

New Kensington woman convicted of helping cop killer asks for release from jail

April 22, 2020

"A New Kensington woman awaiting sentencing for helping a cousin avoid capture following the murder of a city police officer claims she is at high risk to contract the coronavirus and should be released from jail.

In court documents filed this week, Lisa Harrington, 33, claims her pregnancy and a diagnosed respiratory ailment makes her a candidate for house arrest rather than remaining in the Westmoreland County Prison prior to a sentencing hearing that has yet to be scheduled....

A sentencing hearing has not been scheduled because of court delays caused by the coronavirus pandemic...."

New Kensington woman convicted of helping cop killer asks for release from jail | TribLIVE.com

 

[JerseyGirl]

Sentenced to death

New Kensington Police Officer Brian Shaw Remembered 3 Years After Being Killed In Line Of Duty

 

[JerseyGirl]

Rahmael Sal Holt death sentence upheld in Brian Shaw slaying

There is currently a moratorium on the death penalty in Pennsylvania by order of Gov. Tom Wolf.