Pa. judge bans tweeting during stabbing suspect's hearing

GREENSBURG, Pa. (AP) — A judge won’t let news reporters tweet or otherwise send electronic communications from the courtroom during a hearing to decide whether a Pennsylvania high school stabbing suspect will be transferred from a juvenile detention center to a mental health facility.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports Westmoreland County Judge Christopher Feliciani issued the order for Friday’s hearing for 16-year-old Alex Hribal of Murrysville. Hribal is charged with stabbing 20 students and a security guard at Franklin Regional High School on April 9.

Defense attorney Patrick Thomassey has acknowledged his client committed the rampage, but argues he is mentally disturbed. Thomassey has said he’ll eventually ask a judge to move the case from common pleas to juvenile court, where a judge would have jurisdiction only until Hribal is 21.

Prosecutors are opposing that move.