Attorney seeks to lift gag order for self in homicide case

Attorney seeks to lift gag order for self in homicide case

WEST CHESTER, Pa.

A defense attorney is challenging a gag order in the case of a suburban Philadelphia man accused of withholding medical care from his 92-year-old father, resulting in his death.

The Daily Local News of West Chester reports that attorney Joseph Green Jr. argued Thursday that he should be able to respond to Chester County prosecutors’ statements made during the February trial of Edward O’Brien III. The trial ended in a mistrial after jurors couldn’t agree on a verdict.

But Green acknowledged that prosecutors hadn’t violated the gag order since it was imposed in April 2014. And although he wants the order lifted only for him, the judge said that could taint the jury pool for O’Brien’s scheduled June retrial.

Prosecutors oppose the motion. A ruling hasn’t yet been issued.

Firefighter honored on anniversary of death

CINCINNATI

A plaque honoring a Cincinnati firefighter who died after plunging into a fifth-floor elevator shaft last year is set to be unveiled next month at the fire station where he made his last run.

A moment of silence took place for Daryl Gordon on Saturday morning. A wreath has been laid at the Greater Cincinnati Firefighters Memorial Park, marking the one-year anniversary of the 30-year veteran’s death.

Investigators have said a firefighter used a black marker to write “Do Not Enter Open Shaft” on the door a year ago, not long before the 54-year-old Gordon went through it as he searched for residents to rescue in the dark, smoky apartment complex.

The Cincinnati Enquirer reports that a plaque bearing Gordon’s name will be unveiled at Fire Station 14.

Man arrested after woman, boy stabbed in Philadelphia home

PHILADELPHIA

Police say a man was arrested after a woman and a boy were stabbed in a west Philadelphia home.

A police spokeswoman said the stabbing was reported shortly before 1:30 p.m. Sunday.

She said a 44-year-old woman was stabbed in the hand and thigh, and a 13-year-old youth was stabbed three times in both arms.

Both victims were reported in stable condition. Police said a man was arrested, and the weapon was recovered.

Dead pit vipers found in box in post office

WASHINGTON, Pa.

Federal authorities are investigating after two dead pit vipers were found in a box in a western Pennsylvania post office earlier this month.

The Beaver County Times reports that the box shipped from the Philippines to the Beaver County post office was declared as containing T-shirts.

Capt. Thomas Christ of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission said a waterways conservation officer opened the box and found two venomous pit vipers, both dead.

He said additional snakes were found at the home of the person to which the box was addressed. Christ could not say what the person intended to do with the snakes if they had arrived alive.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife authorities are investigating.