Pay for expert witnesses limited

Associated Press

GREENSBURG, Pa.

A western Pennsylvania judge says the county will set a limit on pay for expert witnesses in the trial of three people facing a possible death penalty in the torture-murder of a mentally disabled woman.

Westmoreland County Judge Rita Hathaway told defense attorneys Friday that she will meet with other officials to decide how much to pay for “mitigation specialists” in the case.

Twenty-four-year-old Ricky Smyrnes, 20-year-old Melvin Knight and 20-year-old Amber Meidinger are charged in the February death of 30-year-old Jennifer Daugherty.

Prosecutors allege that they tortured Daugherty for more than two days before killing her and stuffing her body into a trash container.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review says the judge must still rule on other motions such as whether to try the defendants together and whether to suppress statements to police or prison inmates. The hearing resumes Monday.