Man cleared in killing of cousin

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- A man was acquitted Thursday of charges he fatally beat a distant, elderly cousin and beat and stole from another.
An Allegheny County jury deliberated for about 11 hours over three days before clearing Pasquale Marasco III, known as Patsy, 33, of Verona, of homicide, aggravated assault, burglary and related offenses.
An autopsy showed Angelina Rocca, 90, died of head injuries and complications of an existing heart condition the day after she was attacked in her home on May 10, 2003. Her brother, Bernard Rocca, testified at Marasco's preliminary hearing that he was sleeping in his North Braddock home when Marasco and another person entered his room and assaulted him.
Bernard Rocca died in January, but his taped testimony from the preliminary hearing was played for the jury.
Defense attorney Patrick Thomassey argued that Bernard Rocca's mind was too feeble for his testimony to be believed.