Pa. judge rejects mistrial request over use of drug in stabbing death

PITTSBURGH (AP) — An Allegheny County judge refused to grant a mistrial for a man who claims the acne drug Accutane caused mood problems which led him to fatally stab his 16-year-old cheerleader ex-girlfriend.

Hoffmann-La Roche Inc., of Nutley, N.J., pulled the drug off the market Friday citing concerns over pricing of a generic version of Accutane and other issues.

Judge Jeffrey Manning today ruled the trial wasn’t tainted because the drug company’s decision has nothing to do with the defense’s claims that Accutane affected the defendant, 20-year-old John Mullarkey Jr.

Closing arguments ended this morning, and the jury was set to deliberate after the judge’s instructions.

Mullarkey’s attorney has acknowledged his client stabbed Demi Cuccia but says it wasn’t premeditated murder.