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Murder trial won’t be open to public
NEW CASTLE, Pa.
A Lawrence County Common Pleas judge has refused to open the juvenile- court murder trial of Jordan Brown to the public.
Judge John W. Hodge ruled Friday against a motion filed by three Western Pennsylvania newspapers asking that the proceedings, which are scheduled for this week, be open because of the attention the case has drawn.
Brown, now 14, was 11 at the time of the 2009 shotgun slaying of Kenzie Houk, 26, and her unborn child. Houk was Brown’s father’s girlfriend, and she and her two daughters lived with him and Jordan in the New Galilee farmhouse where the murder took place.
The case has drawn worldwide attention because of Jordan’s age as his defense lawyers fought over the past two years to have the case moved from adult to juvenile court. The case finally was ordered moved to juvenile court last month, and Jordan’s trial is set for Tuesday. Now instead of life in prison without parole, Jordan faces maximum incarceration only until age 21 if convicted.
Newspapers filing the action were the New Castle News, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.